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NARRATIVE 



ADVENTURES AND SUFFEEIGNS 



JOHN R. JEWITT, 

ONLY SURVIVOR OF THE CREW OF THE 

SHIP BOSTON, 
DURING A CAPTIVITY OF NEARLY 3 YEARS AMONG THE 

SAVAGES OF NOOTKA SOUND: 

WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE 

MANNERS, MODE OF LIVING, AND RELIGIOUS 
OPINIONS OF THE 

NATIVES. 



ITHACA, N. Y.: 

ANDRtJS, GAUNTLETT & CO. 

1851. 



tf&l 



-2 2>6£z 



A LIST 0* WORDS IN THE NOOTKIAN 
LANGUAGE, THE MOST IN USE. 



Check-up, 

Klootz-mah, 

Noowexa, 

Hooma-hexa, 

Tanassis, 

Katlahtik, 

Kloot-chem-up, 

Tanassis-check 

Tanassis-kloots 

Tau-hat-se-tee, 

Kassee, 

Hap-se-up, 

Naetsa, 

Parpee, 

Chee-chee, 

Choop, 

Kook-a-nik-sa, 

Klish-klin, 

Oopheltb, 

Tar-toose, 

Sie-yah, 

Toop-ehh, 

Cha-hak, 

Meetla, 

Queece, 

Noot-chee, 

Klat-tiir-miss, 

Een-nuk-see, 

Mook-see, 

Muk-ka-tee, 

Wik, 

He-ho, 

Kak-koel(li, 

Mah-liack. 

Klack-e-miss, 

Quart-lak, 

Coo-coo-ho-sa, 

Moo-watch, 

So-har, 

Toosch-qua, 

Pow-ee, 

Kloos-a-mit, 

Chap-atz, 

Oo-wha-pa, 

Chee-me-na, 

Chee-men, 

Sick-a-minny, 



•mah, 



Man. 

Woman. 

Father. 

Mother. 

Child. 

Brother. 

Sister. 

Son. 

Daughter. 

Head. 

Eves. 

Hair. 

Nose. 

Ears. 

Teeth. 

Tongue. 

Hands. 

Feet. 

Sun or Moon. 

Stars. 

Sky. 

Sea. 

Fresh water. 

Rain. 

Snow. 

Mountain or hill. 

Earth. 

Fire or fuel. 

Rock. 

House. 

No. 

Yes. 

Slave. 

Whale. 

Oil. 

Sea-otter. 

Seal. 

Bear. 

Salmon. 

Cod. 

Halibut. 

Herring. 

Canoe. 

Paddle. 

A fish-hook. 

Fish-hooks. 

Iron. 



Toop-helth, Cloth. 

Cham-mass, Fruit. 
Cham-mass-" C Sweet or pleasant 

ish, ( to the taste. 

Moot-sus, Powder. 

Cliee-pokes, Copper. 

Hah-welks, Hungry. 

Nce-sim-mer-hise, Enough. 

Chit-ta-yek, Knife or dagger. 

Klick-er-yek, Ringa. 

Quish-ar, Smoke. 

Mar-met-ta, Goose or duck. 

Pook-shit-tle, To blow. 

Een-a-qui-shit-tle, J To fir 1 ; indlea 

Ar-teese, To bathe. 

Ma-mook-su-mah, To go to fish 
Ar-smootish- ) . 
check-up, J A warrior. 

Cha-alt-see-klat- < Go off, or go 
tur-wah, { away. 

Ma-kook, To sell. 

Kah-ah-pah-chilt, \ Giv f , me 

r ' ( something. 

Oo-nah, How many. 

I-yah-ish, Much. 

Kom-me-tak, I understand, 

do not under- 
stand. 



V 



I-yee-ma-hak 

Em-me-chap, 

Kle-whar, 

Mac-kam 

mah 

Kah-ah-coh, 

Sah-wauk, 

Att-la, 

Kat-sa, 

Mooh, 

Soo-chah, 

Noo-poo, 

At-tle-poo, 

At-lah-quelth, 

Saw-wauk-quelth, 

Hy-o, 

Sak-aitz, 

Soo-jewk, 

Hy-e-oak, 



To play. 
To laugh. 

-sHi'" ( ^° y° u want to ^ u y* 

Bring it. 

One. 

Two. 

Three. 

Four. 

Five. 

Six 

Seven. 

Eight. 

Nine. 

Ten. 

Twenty. 

One hundred. 

One thousand. 



Names of the Crew of the Ship Boston, belonging to 
Boston in Massachusetts, owned by Messrs. F. fy T. 
Jlmory, Merchants of that place — All of whom ex- 
cepting livo, were on the 22d of March, 1803, barbar- 
ously murdered by the Savages at Nootka. 



John Salter, 
B. Delouissa, 
William Ingraham, 
Edward Thompson, 
Adam Siddle, 
Philip Brown, 
John Dorthy, 
Abraham Waters, 
Francis Duffield, 



of Boston, 

Do. 
of New-York, 
of Blyth, (England,) 
of Hull, Do. 
of Cambridge, (Mass.) 
of Scituate, Do. 
of Philadelphia, 
of Penton, (England,) 



John Wilson, (blackman) of Virginia, 



William Caldwell, of Boston, 

Joseph Miner, of Newburyport, 

William Robinson, of Leigh, (Scotland,) 

Thomas Wilson, of Air, Do. 

Andrew Kelly, Do. Do. 

Robert Burton, of the Isle of Man, 

James M'Clay, of Dublin, 

Thomas Flatten, of Blakeney, Norfolk, Eng. 

Thomas Newton, cf Hull, Do. 

Charles Bates, of St. James Deeping, Do. 

John Hall, of New-Castle, Do. 

Samuel Wood, of Glasgow, (Scotland,) 

Peter Alstrom, Norwegian, 

Francis Marten, Portuguese, 

Jupiter Senegal, (blackman) 
John Thompson, Philadelphia, 

who escaped — since dead. 
John R. Jewitt, of Boston, in England, Armourer, 

the writer of the Journal from whence this Narrative is taken, and 
who at present, July, 1815, resides in Middletown, in the State of 
Connecticut. 



Captain. 

Chief-Mate. 

Second-Mate. 

Boatswain. 

Carpenter. 

Joiner. 

Blacksmith. 

Steward. 

Tailor. 

Cook. 

Seaman 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
Sail-Maker. 



NARRATIVE OF JOHN R. JEWITT. 



I was born in Boston, a cc nsiderable borough 
town in Lincolnshire, in Great-Britain, on the 21st 
of May, 1783. My father, Edward Jewitt, was 
by trade a blacksmith, and esteemed among the 
first in his line of business in that place. At the 
age of three years I had the misfortune to lose my 
mother, a most excellent woman, who died in 
child-bed, leaving an infant daughter, who, with 
myself, and an elder brother by a former marriage 
of my father, constituted the whole of our family. 
My father who considered a good education as the 
greatest blessing he could bestow on his children, 
was very particular in paying every attention to us 
in that respect, always exhorting us to behave well, 
and endeavouring to impress on our minds the 
principles of virtue and morality, and no expense 
in his power was spared to have us instructed in 
whatever might render us useful and respectable 
in society. My brother, who was four years old- 
er than myself, and of a more hardy constitution, 
he destined for his own trade, but to me he had 
resolved to give an education superior to that 
which is to be obtained in a common school, it be- 
ing his intention that I should adopt one of the 
learned professions. Accordingly at the age of 
twelve he took me from the' school in which I had 
been taught the fiYst rudiments of learning, and 



8 jewitt's narrative. 

jtaced me under the cave of Mr. Moses, a cele- 
brated teacher of an academy at Donnington, 
about twenty miles from Boston, in order to be 
instructed in the Latin language, and in some of 
the higher branches of the Mathematics. I there 
made considerable proficiency in writing, reading, 
and arithmetic, and obtained a pretty good knowl- 
edge of navigation and of surveying; but my pro- 
gress in Latin was slow, not only owing to the lit- 
tle inclination I felt for learning that language, but 
to a natural impediment in my speech, which ren- 
dered it extremely difficult for me to pronounce 
it, so that in a short time, with my father's con- 
sent, I wholly relinquished the study. 

The period of nr T stay at this place w T as the 
most happy of my life. My preceptor, Mr. Moses, 
was not only a learned, but a virtuous, benevolent, 
and amiable man, universally beloved by his pu- 
pils, who took delight in his instruction, and to 
whom he allowed every proper amusement, that 
consisted with attention to their studies. 

One of the principal pleasures I enjoyed was 
in attending the fair, which is regularly held twice 
a year at Donnington, in the spring and in the fall; 
the second day being wholly devoted to selling 
horses, a prodigious number of which are brought 
thither for that purpose. As the scholars on these 
occasions were always indulged with a holiday, I 
cannot express with what eargerness of youthful 
expectation I used to anticipate these fairs, nor 
what delight I felt at the various shows, exhibitions 
of wild beasts, and other entertainments that they 
presented. I was frequently visited by my father, 
who always discovered much joy on seeing me, 
praised me for my acquirements, and usually left 
me a small sum for my pocket expenses. 



jewitt's narrative. 

Among the scholars at this academy, there was 
one named Charles Rice, with whom I formed a 
particular intimacy, which continued during the 
whole of my stay. He was my class and room 
mate, and as the town he came from, Ashhy, was 
more than sixty miles off, instead of returning 
home, he used frequently during the vacation, to 
go with me to Boston, where he always met with 
a cordial welcome from my father, who received 
me on these occasions with the greatest affection, 
apparently taking much pride in me. My friend 
in return used to take me with him to an uncle of 
his in Donnington, a very wealthy man, who, hav- 
ing no children of his own, was very fond of his 
nephew, and on his account I was always a wel- 
come visitor at the house. I had a good voice, 
and an ear for music, to which I was always pas- 
sionately attached, though my father endeavoured 
to discourage this propensity, considering it, (as 
is too frequently the case) but an introduction to 
a life of idleness and dissipation, and having been 
remarked for my singing at church, which was 
regularly attended en Sundays and Festival days 
by the scholars, Mr. Morthrop, my friend Rice's 
uncle, used frequently to request me to sing; he 
was always pleased with my exhibitions of tin's 
kind, and it w 7 as no doubt one of the means that 
secured me so gracious a reception at his house. 
A number of other gentlemen in the place would 
sometimes send for me to sing at their houses, 
and as I was not a little vain of my vocal powers, 
I was much gratified on receiving these invita- 
tions, and accepted them with the greatest pleasure. 

Thus passed ' away the two happiest years of my 
life, when my father, thinking that I had received 
a sufficient education for the profession he intend- 



10 jewitt's narrative. 

ed me for, took me from school at Donnington in 
order to apprentice me to Doctor Mason, a sur- 
geon of eminence at Reasby, in the neighbour- 
hood of the celebrated Sir Joseph Banks. With 
regret did I part from my school acquaintance, 
particularly my friend Rice, and returned home 
with my father, on a short visit to my family, pre- 
paratory to my intended apprenticeship. The 
disinclination I ever had felt for the profession my 
father wished me to pursue, was still further in- 
creased on my return. When a child I was al- 
ways fond of being in the shop, among the work- 
men, endeavouring to imitate what I saw them do; 
this disposition so far increased after my leaving 
the academy, that I could not bear to hear the 
least mention made of my being apprenticed to a 
surgeon, and I used so many entreaties with my 
father to persuade him to give up this plan and 
learn me his own trade, that he at last consented. 
More fortunate would it probably have been for 
me, had I gratified the wishes of this affectionate 
parent, in adopting the profession he had chosen 
for me, than thus induced him to sacrifice them 
to mine. However it might have been, I was at 
length introduced into the shop, and my natural 
turn of mind corresponding with the employment, 
I became in a short time uncommonly expert at 
the work to which I was set. I now felt myself 
well contented, pleased with my occupation, and 
treated with much affection by my father and kind- 
ness by my step-mother, my father having once 
more entered the state of matrimony, with a wid- 
ow much younger than himself, who had been 
brought up in a superior manner, and was an ami- 
able and sensible woman. 

About a year after I had commenced this ap- 



jewitt's narrative. 11 

prenticeship, my father finding that he could entry 
on his business to more advantage in Hull, remov- 
ed thither with his family. An event of no little 
importance to me, as it in a great measure influ- 
enced my future destiny. ' Hull being one of the 
best ports in England, and a place of great trade, 
my father had there full employment for his nu- 
merous workmen, particularly in vessel work. 
This naturally leading me to an acquaintance with 
the sailors on board some of the ships, the many 
remarkable stories they told me of their voyages 
and adventures, and of the manners and customs 
of the nations they had seen, excited a strong 
wish in me to visit foreign countries, which was 
increased by my reading the voyages of Capt. 
Cook, and some other celebrated navigators. 

Thus passed the four years that I lived at Hull, 
where my father was esteemed by all who knew 
him, as a worthy, industrious, and thriving man. 
At this period a circumstance occurred which af- 
forded me the opportunity I had for some time 
wished, of gratifying my inclination of going abroad. 

Among our principal customers at Hull, were 
die Americans who frequented that port, and from 
whose conversation, my father as well as myself 
formed the most favourable opinion of that coun- 
try, as affording an excellent field for the exertions 
of industry, and a flattering prospect for the estab- 
lishment of a young man in life. In the summer 
of the year 1802, during the peace between Eng- 
land and France, the ship Boston, belonging to 
Boston, in Massachusetts, and commanded by 
Capt. John Salter, arrived at Hull, whither she 
came to take on board a cargo of such goods as 
were wanted for the trade, with the Indians on the 
North- West coast of America, from whence, after 



12 jewitt's narrative. 

having taken in a lading of furs and skins, she was 
co proceed to China, and from thence home to 
America. The ship, having occasion for many 
repairs and alterations, necessary for so long a 
voyage, the csptain applied to my father to do the 
smith work, which was very considerable. That 
gentleman, who was of a social turn, used often 
to call at my father's house, where he passed ma- 
ny of his evenings, with his chief and second 
mates, Mr. B. Delouisa, and Mr. William Ingra- 
ham, the latter a fine young man of about twenty, 
of a most amiable temper, and of such affable 
manners, as gained him the love and attachment 
of our whole crew. These gentlemen used occa- 
sionally to take me with them to the theatre, an 
amusement which I was very fond of, and which 
my father rather encouraged than objected to, as 
he thought it a good means of preventing young 
men who are naturally inclined to seek for some- 
thing to amuse them, from frequenting taverns, 
ale houses, and places of bad resort, equally de- 
structive of the health and morals, while the stage 
frequently furnishes excellent lessons of morality 
and good conduct. 

In the evenings that he passed at my father's, 
Captain Salter, who had for a great number of 
years been at sea, and seen almost all parts of the 
world, used sometimes to speak of his voyages, 
and observing me listen with much attention to his 
relations, he one day when I had brought him 
some work, said to me in rather a jocose manner, 
John, how should you like to go with me? I an- 
swered that it would give me great pleasure, that 
I had for a long time wished to visit foreign coun- 
tries, particularly America, which I Jiad been told 
*o many fine stories of, and that if id r father would 



a&WirT'S NARRATIVE. 13 

give his consent and he was willing to take me 
with him, I would go. I shall be very glad to 
do it, said he, if your father can be prevailed on 
to let you go, and as I want an expert smith for 
an armourer, the one I have shipped for that pnr- 
oose not being sufficiently master of his trade, I 
have no doubt that you will answer my turn well, 
*s I perceive you are both active and ingenious; 
*nd on my return to America, I shall probably be 
%ble to do something much better for you in Bos- 
ton. I will take the first opportunity of speaking 
r.o your father about it, and try to persuade him to 
consent. He accordingly the next evening that 
iie called ot our house introduced the subject: my 
father at first would not listen to the proposal. 
That best of parents, though anxious for my ad- 
vantageous establishment in life, could not bear to 
think of parting with me, but on Capt. Salter's 
telling him of what benefit it would be to me to 
go the voyage with him, and that it was a pity to 
keep a promising and ingenious young fellow, like 
myself, confined to a small shop in England, when 
if I had tolerable success, I might do so much 
better in America, where wages were much higher 
and living cheaper, he at length gave up his ob- 
jections and consented that I should ship on board 
the Boston as an armourer, at the rate of thirty 
dollars per month; with an agreement that the 
amount due me, together with a certain sum of 
money which my father gave Capt. Salter for that 
purpose, should be laid out by him on the North- 
West Coast in the purchase of furs on my account, 
to be disposed of in China for such goods as would 
yield a profit on the return of the ship; my father 
being solicitous to give me every advantage in his 
power, of well establishing myself in my trade in 



14 

Boston or some other maritime town of America. 
Such were the flattering expectations which this 
good man indu]ged respecting me. Alas! the fatal 
disaster that befel us, not only blasted all these 
hopes, but involved me in extreme distress and 
wretchedness for a long period after. 

The ship having undergone a thorough repair and 
been well coppered, proceeded to take on board 
her cargo, which consisted of English cloths, 
Dutch blankets, looking glasses, beads, knives, 
razors, &c. which were received from Holland, 
some sugar and molasses, about twenty hogsheads 
of ruin, including stores for the ship, a great 
quantity of ammunition, cutlasses, pistols, and three 
thousand muskets and fowling pieces. The ship 
being loaded and ready for sea, as I was prepar- 
ing for my departure, my father came to me, and 
taking me aside, said to me with much emotion, 
John, I am now going to part with you, and heav- 
en only knows if we shall ever again meet. But 
in whatever part of the world you are, always 
bear it in mind, that on your own conduct will 
depend your success in life. Be honest, indus- 
trious, frugal, and temperate, and you will not 
fail, in whatsoever country it may be your lot to 
be placed, to gain yourself friends. Let the 
Bible be your guide, and your reliance in any 
fortune that may befall you, that Almighty Being, 
who knows how to bring forth good from evil, 
and who never deserts those who put their trust in 
him. He repeated his exhortations to me to lead 
an honest and a christian life, and to recollect that 
I had a father, a mother, a brother, and sister, 
who could not but feel a strong interest in my 
welfare, enjoining me to write him by the first 
opportunity that should offer to England, from 



jewitt's narrative. 15 

whatever part of the world I might be in, more 
particularly on my arrival in Boston. This I 
promised to do, but long unhappily was it before 
I was able to fulfill this promise. I then took an 
affectionate leave of my worthy parent, whose 
feelings would hardly permit him to speak, and 
bidding an affectionate farewell to my brother, sis- 
ter, and step-mother, who expressed the greatest 
solicitude for my future fortune, went on board 
the ship, which proceeded to the Downs to be 
ready for the first favourable wind. I found my- 
self well accommodated on board as regarded my 
work, an iron forge having been erected on deck; 
this my father had made for the ship on a new 
plan, for which he afterwards obtained a patent; 
while a corner of the steerage was appropriated 
to my vice bench, so that in bad weather I could 
work below. 

On the third day of September, 1802, we 
sailed from the Downs with a fair wind, in com- 
pany with twenty-four sail of American vessels, 
most of which were bound home. 

I was sea-sick for a few of the first days, but it 
was of short continuance, and on my recovery I 
found myself in uncommonly fine health and spir- 
its, and went to work with alacrity at my forge, 
in putting in .order some of the muskets, and mak- 
ing daggers, knives, and small hatchets for the 
Indian trade, while in wet and stormy weather I 
was occupied below in filing and polishing them. 
This was my employment, having but little to do 
with sailing the vessel, though I used occasionally 
to lend a hand in assisting the seamen in taking in 
and making sail. As I had never before been out 
of sight of land, I cannot describe my sensations, 



16 

after I had recovered from the distressing effects 
of sea-sickness, on viewing the mighty ocean by 
which I was surrounded, bounded only by the sky; 
while its waves rising in mountains, seemed every 
moment to threaten our ruin. Manifest as is the 
hand of Providence in preserving its creatures 
from destruction, in no instance is it more so than 
on the great deep; for whether we consider in its 
tumultuary motions the watery deluge that each 
moment menaces to overwhelm us, the immense 
violence of its shocks, the little that interposes 
between us and death, a single plank forming our 
only security, which, should it unfortunately be 
loosened would plunge us at once into the abyss, 
our gratitude ought strongly to be excited towards 
that superintending Deity who in so wonderful a 
manner sustains our lives amid the waves. 

We had a pleasant and favourable passage of 
twenty-nine days to the Island of St. Catharine 
on the coast of Brazils, where the Captain had de- 
termined to stop for a few days to wood and wa- 
ter. This place belongs to the Portuguese. On 
entering the harbour we were saluted by the fort, 
which we returned. The next day the Governor 
of the Island came on board of us with his suite; 
Captain Salter received him with much respect 
and invited him to dine with him, which, he ac- 
cepted. The ship remained at St. Catharine's 
four days, during which time, we were busily em- 
ployed in taking in wood, water, and fresh provis- 
ions, Captain Salter thinking it best to furnish 
himself here with a full supply for his voyage to 
the North- West coast, so as not to be obliged to 
Btop at the Sandwich Islands. St. Catharine is a 
very commodious place for vessels to stop at that 



17 

are bound round Cape Horn, as it abounds with 
springs of fine water, with excellent oranges, 
plantains, and bananas. 

Having completed our stores we put to sea, and 
on the twenty-fifth of December at lengih passed 
Cape Horn, which we had made no less than 
thirty-six days before, but were repeatedly forced 
back by contrary winds, experiencing very rough 
and tempestuous weather in doubling it. 

Immediately after passing Cape Horn, all our dan- 
gers and difficulties seemed to be at an end; the 
weather became fine and so little labour was ne- 
cessary on board the ship that the men soon re- 
covered from their fatigue and were in excellent 
spirits. A few clays after we fell in with an Eng- 
lish South Sea Whaling Ship, homeward bound, 
which was the only vessel we spoke with on our 
voyage. We now took the trade wind or mon- 
soon, during which we enjoyed the finest weather 
possible, so that for the space of a fortnight we 
were not obliged to reeve a topsail or to make a 
tack, and so light was the duty and easy the life 
of the sailors during this time, that they appeared 
the happiest of any people in the world. 

Captain Salter, who had been for many years 
in the East-India trade, was a most excellent sea- 
man, and preserved the strictest order and disci- 
pline on board his ship, though he was a man of 
mild temper and conciliating manners, and dispos- 
ed to allow every indulgence to his men, not in- 
consistent with their duty. We had on board a 
fine band of music, with which on Saturday nights, 
when the weather was pleasant, we were accus- 
tomed to be regaled, the Captain ordering them to 
play for several hours for the amusement of the 
crew. This to me was most delightful, especially 



18 jewitt's narrative. 

during the serene evenings we experienced in tra- 
versing the Southern Ocean. As for myself, 
during the day I was constantly occupied at my 
forge, in re-fitting or repairing some of the iron 
work of the vessel, but principally in making tom- 
ahawks, daggers, &c. for the North West coast. 
During the first part of our voyage we saw 
scarcely any fish, excepting some whales, a few 
sharks, and flying fish; but after weathering Cape 
Horn we met with numerous shoals of sea por- 
poises, several of whom we caught, and as we 
had been for some time without fresh provisions, 
I found it not only a palatable but really a very 
excellent food. To one w T ho has never before 
seen them, a shoal of these fish presents a very 
striking and singular appearance; beheld at a distance 
coming towards a vessel they look not unlike a 
great number of small black waves rolling over 
one another in a confused manner and approaching 
with great swiftness. As soon as a shoal is seen 
all is bustle and activity on board the ship, the 
grains and the harpoons are immediately got ready, 
and those who are best skilled in throwing them 
take their stand at the bow and along the gunwale 
anxiously awaiting the welcome troop as they come 
gamboling and blowing arcund the vessel, in search 
of food. When pierced with the harpoon and 
drawn on board, unless the fish is instantly killed 
by the stroke, which rarely happens, it utters most 
pitiful cries, greatly resembling those of an infant. 
The flesh cut into steaks and broiled, is not unlike 
very coarse beef, and the harslet in appearance 
and taste is so much like that of a hog, that it 
would be no easy matter to distinguish the one 
from the other; from this circumstance the sailors 
h?ve given the name of the herring hog to this fish; 



jewitt's narrative. 19 

I was told by some of the crew, that if one of 
them happens to free itself from the grains or har- 
poons, when struck, all the others, attracted by 
the -blood, immediately quit the ship and give 
chase to the wounded one, and as soon as they 
overtake it immediately tear it in pieces. We al- 
so caught a large shark, which had followed the 
ship for several days with a hook which I made 
for the purpose, and although the Mesh was by no 
means equal to that of the herring hog, yet to 
these destitute as we were of any thing fresh, I 
found it eat very well. After passing the Cape 
when the sea had become calm we saw great 
numbers of Albatrosses, a large brown and white 
bird of die goose kind, one of which Captain 
Salter shot, whose wings measured from their ex- 
tremities fifteen feet. One thing, however, I 
must not omit mentioning, as it struck me in a 
most singular and extraordinary manner. This 
was, that on passing Cape Horn ii December, 
which was mid summer in that climate, the nights 
were so light, without any moon, that we found 
no difficulty whatever in reading small print which 
we frequently did during our watches. 

In this manner, with a fair wind and easy weath- 
er from the 28th of December, the period of our 
passing Cape Horn, we pursued our voyage to the 
Northward until the 12th of March 1803, when 
we made Woody Point in Nootka Sound on the 
North West Coast of America. We immediately 
stood up the Sound for Nootka, where Captain 
Salter had determined to stop, in order to supply 
the ship with wood and water before proceeding up 
the coast to trade. But in order to avoid the risk 
of any molestation or interruption to his men from 
ihe Indians, while thus employed, he proceeded 



20 



JEWITT S NARRATIVE, 



with the ship about five miles to the Northward of 
the village, which is situated on Friendly Cove, 
and sent out his chief mate with several of the crew 
in the boat to find a good place for anchoring her. 
— After sounding for some time they returned with 
information that they had discovered a secure place 
for anchorage, on the Western side of an inlet or 
small bay at about half a mile from the coast, near 
a small island which protected it from the sea, and 
where there was a plenty of wood and excellent wa- 
ter. The ship accordingly came to anchor in this 
place, at twelve o'clock at night, in twelve fathom 
water, muddy bottom, and so near the shore that to 
prevent the ship from winding we secured her. by 
a hauser to the trees. On the morning of the next 




The arrival of the Boston, at Nootka Sound. 

day, the thirteenth, several of the natives came on 
board in a canoe from the village of Nootka, with 
their king, called Maquina, who appeared much 
pleased on seeing us, and with great seeming cor- 
diality, welcomed Capt. Salter and his officers to 
his country. As I had never before beheld a sav- 



jewitt's narrative. 21 

age of any nation, it may readily be supposed that 
the novelty of their appearance, so different from 
any people that I had hitherto seen, excited in me 
strong feelings of surprise and curiosity. I was, 
however, particularly struck with the looks of their 
king, who was a man of a dignified aspect, about 
six feet in height and extremely strait and well 
proportioned; his features were in general good 
and his face was rendered remarkable by a large 
Roman nose, a very uncommon form of feature 
among these people ; his complexion was of a dark 
copper hue, though his face, legs, and arms were 
on this occasion, so covered with red paint, that 
their natural colour could scarcely be perceived, his 
eye-brows were painted black in two broad stripes 
like a new moon, and his long black hair, which 
shone with oil, was fastened in a bunch on the top 
of his head and strewed or powdered all oyer with 
white down, which gave him a most curious and 
extraordinary appearance. He was dressed in a 
large mantle or cloak of the black sea otter skin, 
which reached to his knees, and was fastened 
around his middle by a broad belt of the cloth 
of the country, wrought, or painted with figures 
of several colours; this dress was by no means un- 
becoming, but on the contrary had an air of say- 
age magnificence. His men were habited in 
mantles of the same cloth, which is made from the 
bark of a tree, and has some resemblance to straw 
matting, these are nearly square and have two holes 
in the upper part large enough to admit the arms — 
they reach as low as the knees, and are fastened 
around their bodies with a belt about four inches 
broad of the same cloth. 

From his having frequently visited the English 
and American ships that traded to the coast, Ma- 



22 jewitt's narrative. 

quina had learned the signification of a number of 
English words, and in general could make himself 
pretty well understood by us in our own language. 
He was always the first to go on board such ships 
as came to Nootka, which he was much pleased 
in visiting, even when he had no trade to offer, as 
he almost always received some small present, and 
was in general extremely well treated by the com- 
manders. He remained on board of us for some 
time during which the captain took him into the 
cabin and treated him with a glass of rum; these 
people being very fond of distilled spirits, and 
some biscuit and molasses which they prefer to 
any kind of food that we can offer them. 

As there are seldom many furs to be purchased 
at this place, and it was not fully the season, Capt. 
Salter had put in here not so much with an expec- 
tation of trading as to procure an ample stock of 
wood and water for the supply of the ship on the 
coast, thinking it more prudent to take it on board 
at Nootka, from the generally friendly disposition 
of the people, than to endanger the safety of his 
men in sending them on shore for that purpose 
among the more ferocious natives of the north. 
With this view, we immediately set about getting 
our water casks in readiness, and the next and two 
succeeding days part of the crew were sent on 
shore to cut pine timber and assist the carpenter 
in making it into yards and spars for the ship, 
while those on board were employed in refitting 
the rigging, repairing the sails, &c. when we pro- 
ceeded to take in our wood and water as expedi- 
tiously as possible, during which time I kept my- 
self busily employed in repairing the muskets, 
making knives, tomaxes, &c. and doing such iron 
work as was wanted for the ship. Meantime more 



JEwitt's narrative. 23 

or less of the natives came on board of us daily, 
bringing with them fresh salmon with which they 
supplied us in great plenty, receiving in return 
some trifling articles. Capt. Salter was always 
very particular before admitting these people on 
board to see that they had no arms about them, 
by obliging them indiscriminately to throw off their 
garments, so that he felt perfectly secure from any 
attack. On the fifteenth the king came on board 
with several of his chiefs; he was dressed as be- 
fore in his magnificent otter skin robe, having his 
face highly painted, and his hair tossed off with 
the white down which looked like snow; his 
chiefs were dressed ir mar-ties of the country 
cloth of its natural colour, which is a pale yellow; 
these were ornamented with a broad border paint- 
ed or wrought in figures of several colours repre- 
senting men's heads, various animals, &c. and se- 
cured around them by a belt like that of the king 
from which it was distinguished only by being 
narrower: the dress of the common people is of 
the same fashion and differs from that of the chiefs 
in being of a coarser texture and painted red, of 
one uniform colour. 

Captain Salter invited Maquina and his chiefs 
to dine with him, and it was curious to see how 
these people (when they eat) seat themselves (in 
their country fashion upon our chairs) with their 
feet under them crossed like Turks. They can- 
not endure the taste of salt, and the only thing 
they would eat with us was the ship bread which 
they were very fond of, especially when dipped in 
molasses ; they had also a great liking for tea and 
coffee when well sweetened. As iron weapons 
and tools of almost every kind are in much request 
among them, whenever they came on board they 



24 JEWITT'S NARivAiiir.. 

were always very attentive fo me, crowding around 
me at the forge, as if to see in what manner I did 
my work, and in this way became quite familiar, 
a circumstance, as will be seen in the end, of 
great importance to me. The salmon which they 
brought us furnished a most delicious treat to men 
who for a long time had lived wholly on salt pro- 
visions excepting such few sea fish as we had the 
good fortune occasionally to take. We indeed 
feasted most luxuriously, and flattered ourselves 
that we should not want while on the coast for 
plenty of fresh provisions, little imagining the fate 
that awaited us, and that this dainty food was to 
prove the unfortunate lure to our destruction! On 
the nineteenth, the king came again on board and 
was invited by the Captain to dine with him. He 
had much conversation with Capt. Salter, and in- 
formed him that there were plenty of wild ducks 
and geese near Friendly Cove, on which the Cap- 
tain made him a present of a double-barreled fowl- 
ing piece with which he appeared to be greatly 
pleased and soon after went on shore. 

On the 20th we were nearly ready for our de- 
parture, having taken in what wood and water we 
were in want of. 

The next day Maqufna came on board with 
nine pair of wild ducks, as a present, at the same 
time he brought with him the gun, one of the locks 
of which he had broken, telling the Captain that it 
was peshak, that is bad; Capt. Salter was very 
much offended at this observation, and consider- 
ing it as a mark of contempt for his present, he 
called the king a liar, adding other opprobrious 
terms, and taking the*gun from him tossed it in- 
dignantly into the cabin and calling me to him said, 
« John, this fellow has broken this beautiful fowl- 



jewitt's narrative. 25 

ing piece, see if you can mend it:' on examining 
it I told him that it could be done. — As I have 
already observed, Maquina knew a number of 
English words, and unfortunately understood but 
too well the meaning of the reproachful terms that 
the Captain addressed to him. — He said "not a 
word in reply, but his countenance sufficiently ex- 
pressed the rage he felt, though he exerted him- 
self to suppress it, and I observed him while the 
Captain was speaking repeatedly put his hand to 
his throat and rub it upon his bosom, which he 
afterwards told me was to keep down his heart 
which was rising into his throat and choaking him. 
He soon after went on shore with his men, evi- 
dently much discomposed. 

On the morning of the 22d the natives came off 
to us as usual with salmon, and remained on board, 
when about noon Maquina came along side with a 
considerable number of his chiefs and men in their 
canoes, who, after going through the customary 
examination were admitted into the ship. He had 
a whistle in his hand, and over his face a very ug- 
ly mask of wood representing the head of some 
wild beast, appeared to be remarkably good hu- 
moured and gay, and whilst his people sung and 
capered about the deck, entertaining us with a va- 
riety of antic tricks* and gestures, he blew his 
whistle to a kind of tune which seemed to regulate 
their motions. As Capt. Salter was walking on 
the quarter deck amusing himself with their danc- 
ing, the king came up to him and enquired when 
he intended to go to sea? — he answered, to-mor- 
row. — Maquina then said, -you love salmon — 
much in Friendly Cove, why not go then and 
catch some?'— The Captain thought that it would 
be very desirable to have a good supply of these 
3 



26 jewitt's narrative. 

fish for the voyage, and on consulting with Air 
Delouisa it was agreed to send part of the crew 
on shore after dinner with the seine in order to 
procure a quantity — Maquina and his chiefs staid 
and dined on board, and after dinner the chief 
mate went off with nine men in the jolly boat and 
yawl to fish at Friendly Cove, having set the 
steward on shore at our watering place to wash 
the captain's clothes. Shortly after the departure 
of the boats I went down to my vice-bench in the 
steerage, where I was employed in cleaning musk- 
ets. I had not been there more than an hour 
when I heard the men hoisting in the long boat, 
which, in a few minutes after, was succeeded by 
a great bustle and confusion on deck. I immedi- 
ately ran up the steerage stairs, but scarcely was 
my head above deck, when I was caught by the 
hair by one of the savages, and lifted from my 
feet; fortunately for me, my hair being short, and 
the ribbon with which it was tied slipping, I fell 
from his hold into the steerage. As I was falling, 
he struck at me with an axe, which cut a deep 
gash in my forehead, and penetrated the skull, but 
in consequence of his losing his hold, I luckily es- 
caped the full force of the blow; which, otherwise, 
would have cleft my head in two. I fell, stunned 
and senseless upon the floor — how long I continu- 
ed in this situation I know not, but on recovering 
my senses the first thing that I did, was to try to 
get up; but so weak was I, from the loss of blood, 
that I fainted and fell. I was however soon re- 
called to my recollection by three loud shouts or 
yells from the savages, which convinced me that 
they had got possession of the ship. It is impos- 
sible for me to describe my feelings at this terrific 
sound. — Some faint idea may be foimed of them 



jewitt's narrative. 27 

by those who have known what it is to half waken 
from a hideous dream and still think it real. Nev- 
er, no, never, shall I lose from my mind, the im- 
pression of that dreadful moment. I expected 
every instant to share 'the wretched fate of my un- 
fortunate companions, and when I heard the song 
of triumph, by which these infernal yells was suc- 
ceeded, my blood ran cold in my veins. Having 
at length sufficiently recovered my senses to look 
around me after wiping the blood from my eyes, I 
sa.v that the hatch of the steerage was shut. This 
was done, as I afterwards discovered, by order of 
Maquina, who, on seeing the savage strike at me 
with the axe, told him not to hurt me, for that I 
was the armourer, and would be useful to them in 
repairing their arms; while at the same time to 
prevent any of his men from injuring me, he had 
the hatch closed. But to me this circumstance 
wore a very different appearance, for I thought 
that these barbarians had only prolonged my life 
in order to deprive me of it by the most cruel tor- 
tures. I remained in this horrid state of suspense 
for a very long time, when at length the hatch was 
opened, and Maquina, calling me by name, order- 
ed me to come up. I groped my way up as well 
as I was able, being almost blinded with the blood 
that flowed from my wound, and so weak as with 
difficulty to walk. The king, on perceiving my 
situation, ordered one of his men to bring a pot 
of water to wash the blood from my face, which 
having done, I was able to see distinctly with one 
of my eyes, but the other was so swollen from my 
wound, that it was closed. But what a terrific 
spectacle met my eyes; six naked savages, stand- 
ing in a circle around me, covered with the blood 
of my murdered comrades, with their daggers up- 



28 jewitt's narrative. 

lifted in their hands, prepared to strike. I now 
thought my last moment had come, and recom- 
mended my soul to my Maker. — The king, who, 
as I have already observed, knew enough of Eng- 
lish to make himself understood, entered the cir- 
cle, and placing himself before me, addressed me 
nearly in the following words — "John — I speak 
— you no say no — You say no — daggers come!" 
He then asked me if I would be his slave during 
my life — If I would fight for him in his battles — 
If I would repair his muskets and make dagge-s 
and knives for him — with several other questions, 
to all of which I was careful to answer, yes. He 
then told me that he would spare my life, and or- 
dered me to kiss his hands and feet to show my 
submission to him, which I did. — In the mean time 
his people were very clamorous to have me put to 
death, so that there should be none of us left to 
tell our story to our countrymen and prevent them 
from coming to trade with them; but the king, in 
the most determined manner opposed their wishes, 
and to his favour am I wholly indebted for my be- 
ing yet among the living. As I was busy at work 
at the time of the attack, I was without my coat, 
and what with the coldness of the weather, my 
feebleness from loss of blood, the pain of my 
wound and the extreme agitation and terror that I 
still felt, I shook like a leaf, which the king ob- 
serving, went into the cabin and bringing up a 
great coat that belonged to the captain, threw it 
over my shoulders, telling me to drink some rum 
from a bottle which he handed me at the same 
time, giving me to understand that it would be 
good for me and keep me from trembling as I did. 
I took a draught of it, after which, taking me by 
the hand, he led me to the quarter deck, where 



jewitt's narrative. 29 

the most horrid sight presented itself that ever my 
eyes witnessed — the heads of our unfortunate Cap- 
tain and his crew, to the number of twenty-five, 
were all arranged in a line, and Maquina ordering 
one of his people to bring a head, asked me whose 
it was: I answered, the Captain's; in like manner 
the others were showed me, and I told him the 
names, excepting a few that were so horribly man- 
gled that I was not able to recognize them. I 
now discovered that all our unfortunate crew had 
been massacred, and learned that after getting pos- 
session of the ship, the savages had broke open 
the arm chest and magazine, and supplying them- 
selves with ammunition and arms, sent a party on 
shore to attack our men who had gone thither to 
fish, and being joined by numbers from the village, 
without difficulty overpowered and murdered 
them, and cutting off their heads, brought them 
on board, after throwing their bodies into the sea. 
On looking upon the deck, I saw it entirely cov- 
ered with the blood of my poor comrades, whose 
throats had been cut with their own jack-knives, 
the savages having seized the opportunity while 
they were busy in hoisting in the boat^ to grapple 
with them and overpower them by their numbers ; 
in the scuffle the captain was thrown overboard 
and despatched by those in the canoes, who imme- 
diately cut off his head: What I felt on this occa- 
sion, may Be more readily conceived than ex- 
pressed.' 

After I had answered his questions, Maquina 
took my silk handkerchief from my neck and bound 
it around my head, placing over the wound a leaf 
of tobacco, of which we had a quantity on board. 
This was done at my desire, as I had often found 
3* 



80 jevvitt's narrative. 

from personal experience the benefit of this appli- 
cation to cuts. 

Maquina then ordered me to get the ship under 
weigh for Friendly Cove. This I did by cutting 
the cables and sending some of the natives aloft to 
loose the sails, which they performed in a very 
bungling manner. But they succeeded so far in 
loosing the jib and topsails, that, with the advan- 
tage of a fair wind, I succeeded in getting the ship 
into the Cove, where, by order of the King, I ran 
her ashore on a sandy beach, at 8 o'clock at night. 

We were received by the inhabitants of the vil- 
lage, men, women, and children, with loud shouts 
of joy, and a most horrible drumming with sticks 
upon the roofs and sides of their houses, in which 
they had also stuck a great number of lighted pine 
torches, to welcome their king's return and con- 
gratulate him on the success of his enterprize. 

Maquina then took me on shore to his house, 
which was very large and filled with people — 
where I was received with much kindness by the 
women, particularly those belonging to the king, 
who had no less than nine wives, all of whom 
came around me expressing much sympathy for my 
misfortune, gently stroking and patting my head in 
an encouraging and soothing manner, with words 
expressive of condolence. How sweet is compas- 
sion even from savages? — Those who have been 
in a similar situation, can alone truly appreciate its 
value. 

In the mean time, all the warriors of the tribe, 
to the number of five hundred, had assembled at 
the king's house to rejoice for their success. 
They exulted greatly in having taken our ship, 
and each one boasted of his own particular exploits, 



JEWITT S NARRATIVE. «3t 

in killing our men, but they were in geneial much 
dissatisfied with my having been suffered to live, 
and were very urgent with Maquina to deliver me 
to them to be put to death, which he obstinately re- 
fused to do, telling them that he had promised me 
my life and would not break his word; and that 
besides, I knew how to repair and to make arms, 
and should be of great use to them. 

The king then seated me by him and ordered 
his women to bring him something to eat, when 
they set before him some dried clams and train 
oil, of which he ate very heartily, and encouraged 
me to follow his example, telling me to eat much 
and take a great deal of oil which would make me 
strong and fat; notwithstanding his praise of this 
new kind of food, I felt no disposition to indulge 
in it, both the smell and taste being loathsome to 
me; and had it been otherwise, such was the pain 
I endured, the agitation of my mind, and the 
gloominess of my reflections, that I should have 
felt very little inclination for eating. Not satisfied 
with his first refusal to deliver me up to them, the 
people again became clamorous that Maquina should 
consent to my being killed, saying that not one of 
us ought to be left alive to give information to 
others of our countrymen and prevent them from 
coming to trade or induce them to revenge the de- 
struction of our ship, and they at length became so 
boisterous that he caught up a large club in a pas- 
sion and drove them all out of the house. During 
this scene a son of the king, of about eleven years 
old, attracted no doubt by the singularity of my ap- 
pearance came up to me: I caressed him; he re- 
turned my attentions with much apparent pleasure, 
and considering this as a fortunate opportunity to 
gain the good will of the father, I took the child 



S2 

on my knee, and cutting the metal buttons from off 
the coat I had on, I tied them around his neck. 
At this he was highly delighted, and became so 
much attached to me that he would not quit me. 

The king appeared much pleased with my at- 
tention to his son, and telling me that it was time 
to go to sleep, directed me to lie with his son next 
to him, as he was afraid lest some of his people 
would come while he was asleep and kill me with 
their daggers. I lay down as he ordered me, but 
neither the state of my mind nor the pain I felt 
would allow me ! i sleep. About midnight I was 
greatly alarmed by the approach of one of the na- 
tives, who came to give information to the king 
that there was one of the white men alive, who 
had knocked him down as he went on board the 
ship at night. This Maquina communicated to 
me, giving me to understand that as soon as the sun 
rose he should kill him. I endeavoured to per- 
suade him to spare his life, but he bade me be 
silent and go to sleep. I said nothing more but 
lay revolving in my mind what method I could de- 
vise to save the life of this man. What a con- 
solation thought I, what a happiness would it 
prove to me in my forlorn state among these 
heathen, to have a Christian and one of my own coun 
try men for a companion, and how greatly would 
it alleviate and lighten the burden of my slavery. 
As I was thinking of some plan for his preserva- 
tion, it all at once came into my mind that this 
man was probably die sail-maker of the ship, named 
Thompson, as I had not seen his head among 
those on deck, and knew that he was below at 
work upon the sails not long before the attack. 
The more I thought of it the more probable it ap 
peared to me, and as Thompson was a man nearer 



jewjtt's narrative. 33 

forty years of age, and had an old look, I conceiv- 
ed it would be easy to make him pass for my fath- 
er, and by this means prevail on Maquina to spare 
his life. Towards morning I fell into a doze, but 
was awakened with the first beams of the sun by 
the king, who told me that he was going to kill 
the man who was on board the ship, and ordered 
me to accompany him. I rose and followed him, 
leading with me the young prince his son. 

On coming to the beach I found all the men of 
the tribe assembled. The king addressed them, 
saying that one of the white men had been found 
alive on board the ship, and requested their opin- 
ion as to saving his life or putting him to death. 
They were unanimously for the first: This de- 
termination he made known to me. Having ar- 
ranged my plan, I asked him, pointing to the boy 
whom I still held by the hand, if he loved his son, 
he answered that he did ; I then asked the child if 
he loved his father, and on replying in the affirma- 
tive, I said and " I also love mine." I then threw 
myself on my knees at Maquina's feet, and implor- 
ed him with tears in my eyes to spare my father's 
life, if the man on board should prove to be him, 
telling him that if he killed my father it was my 
wish that he should kill me too, and that if he did 
not I would kill myself, — and that he would thus 
lose my services; whereas, by sparing my father's 
life he would preserve mine, which would be of 
great advantage to him by my repairing and mak- 
ing arms for him. Maquina appeared moved by 
my entreaties and promised not to put the man to 
death if he should be my father. He then ex- 
plained to his people what I had said, and ordered 
me to go on board and tell the man to come on 
shore. To my unspeakable joy on going into the 



34 jewitt's narrative. 

hold, I found that my conjecture was true, Thomp- 
son was there, he had escaped without any injury, 
excepting a slight wound in the nose, given him by 
one of the savages with a knife as he attempted to 
come on deck, during the scuffle. Finding the 
savages in possession of the ship, as he afterwards 
informed me, he secreted himself in the hold, hop- 
ing for some chance to make his escape — but that 
the Indian who came on board in the night ap- 
proaching the place where he was, he supposed 
himself discovered, and being determined to sell 
his life as dearly as possible, as soon as he came 
within his reach, he knocked him down, but the 
Indian immediately springing up, ran off at full 
speed. — I informed him in a few words that all 
our men had been killed; that the king had preserv- 
ed my life, and had consented to spare his on the 
supposition that he was my father, an opinion 
which he must be careful not to undeceive them in, 
as it was his only safety. After giving him his 
cue, I went on shore with him and presented him 
to Maquina, who immediately knew him to be the 
sail-maker and was much pleased, observing that he 
could make sails for his canoe. — He then took us 
to his house and ordered something for us to eat. 

On the 24th and 25th the natives were busily 
employed in taking the cargo out of the ship, strip- 
ping her of her sails and rigging, cutting away the 
spars and masts, and in short rendering her as 
complete a wreck as possible, the muskets, am- 
munition, cloth and all the principal articles taken 
from her, being deposited in the king's house. 

While they were thus occupied, each one tak- 
ing what he liked, my companion and myself being 
obliged to aid them, I thought it best to secure 
the accounts and papers of the ship, in hopes that 



jewitt's narrative. 35 

jn some future day I might have it in my power to 
restore them to the owners. With this view I 
took possession of the Captain's writing desk 
which contained the most of them, together with 
some paper and implements for writing. I had 
also the good fortune to find a blank account book, 
in which I resolved, should it be permitted me to 
write an account of our capture and the most re- 
markable occurrences that I should meet with dur- 
ing my stay among these people, fondly indulging 
the hope that it would not be long before some 
vessel would arrive to release us. I likewise 
found in the cabin, a small volume of sermons, a 
bible, and a common prayer book of the Church 
of England, which furnished me and my comrade 
great consolation in the midst of our mournful 
servitude, and enabled me, under the favor of 
divine providence, to support, with firmness, the 
miseries of a life which I might otherwise have 
found beyond my strength to endure. As these 
people set no value upon things of this kind, I 
found no difficulty in appropriating them to myself, 
by putting them in my chest, which though it had 
been broken open and rifled by the savages, as I 
still had the key, I without much difficulty secur- 
ed. In this I also put some small tools belonging 
to the ship, with several other articles, particularly 
a journal kept by the second mate, Mr. Ingraham, 
and a collection of drawings and views of places 
taken by him, which I had the good fortune to 
preserve, and on my arrival at Boston, I gave them 
to a connection of' his, the honorable Judge Dawes, 
who sent them to his family in New- York. 

On the 26th, two ships were seen standing in 
for Friendly Cove. At their first appearance the 
inhabitants were thrown into great confusion, but 



36 



JEWITT S NARRATIVE. 



soon collecting a number of muskets and blunder- 
busses, ran to the shore, from whence they kept 
up so brisk a fire at them, that they were evidently 




afraid to approach nearer, and after firing a few 
rounds of grape shot which did no harm to any 
one, they wore ship and stood out to sea. These 
ships, as I afterwards learned, were the Mary and 
Juno of Boston. 

They were scarcely out of sight when Maquina 
expressed much regret that he had permitted his 
people to fire at them, being apprehensive that 
they would give information to others in what 
manner they had been received, and prevent them 
from coming to trade with him. 

A few days after hearing of the capture of the 
ship, there arrived at Nootka a great number of 
canoes filled with savages from no less than twenty 
tribes to the North and South. Among those 
from the North were the Ai-tiz-zarts, Schoo-mad- 
its, Neu-wit-ties, Savin-nars, Ah-owz-arts, Mo- 
watch-its, Suth-setts, Neu-chad-lits, Mich-la-its 
and Cay-u-quets ; the most of whom were consid- 
ered as tributary to Nootka. From the South, 



jev/itt's narrative. 3? 

the Aytch-arts and Esquiates also tributary, with 
the Kla-oo-qr.ates, and the Wickanninish, a large 
and powerful tribe about two hundred miles dis- 
tant. These last were better clad than most of 
the others, and their canoes wrought with much 
greater skill; they are furnished with sails as well 
as paddles, and with the advantage of a fair breeze, 
are usually but twenty-four hours on their passage. 
Maquina, who was very proud of his new ac- 
quisition, was desirous of welcoming these visitors 
in the European manner. He accordingly order- 
ed his men, as the canoes approached, to assem- 
ble on the beach with loaded muskets and blunder- 
busses, placing Thompson at the cannon which 
had been brought from the ship and laid upon two 
long sticks of timber in front of the village, then 
taking a speaking trumpet in his hand he ascended 
with me the roof of his house, and began drum- 
ming or beating upon the boards with a stick 
most violently. Nothing could be more ludi- 
crous than the appearance of this motley group of 
savages collected on the shore, dressed as they 
were, with their ill-gotten finery, in the most fan- 
tastic manner, some in women's smocks, taken 
from our cargo, others in Kotsacks^ (or cloaks) 
of blue, red or yellow broadcloth, with stockings 
drawn over their heads, and their necks hung round 
with numbers of powder-horns, shot-bags, and car- 
touch-boxes, some of them having no less than ten 
muskets a piece on their shoulders, and five or six 
daggers in their girdles. Diverting indeed was it 
toVee them all squatted upon the beach, holding 
their muskets perpendicularly, with the butt pres- 
sed upon the sand instead of against their should- 
ers, and in this position awaited the order to fire. 
Maquina, at last, called to them with his trumpet 
4 



38 jewitt's narrative. 

to fire, which they did in the most awkward and 
timid manner, with their muskets hard pressed 
upon the ground as above mentioned. At the 
same moment the cannon was fired by Thomp- 
son, immediately on which they threw themselves 
back and began to roll and tumble over the sand 
as if they had been shot, when suddenly springing 
up they began a song of triumph and running back- 
ward and forward upon the shore, with the wild- 
est gesticulations, boasted of their exploits and ex- 
hibited as trophies what they had taken from us. 
Notwithstanding the unpleasantness of my situation, 
and the feelings that this display of our spoils ex- 
cited, I could not avoid laughing at the strange 
appearance of these savages, their awkward move- 
ments, and the singular contrast of their dress and 
arms. 

When the ceremony was concluded, Maquina in- 
vited the strangers to a feast at his house, consist- 
ing of whale blubber, smoked herring spawn, and 
dried fish and train oil, of which they eat most 
plentifully. The feast being over, the trays out 
of which they eat, and other things were immedi- 
ately removed to make room for the dance which 
was to close the entertainment. This was per- 
formed by Maquina 's son, the young prince Sat- 
sat-sok-sis, whom I have already spoken of, in the 
following manner — Three of the principal chiefs, 
drest in their otter-skin mantles, which they wore 
only on extraordinary occasions and at festivals, 
having their heads covered over with white down 
and their faces highly painted, came forward into 
the middle of the room, each furnished with a bag 
filled with the white down, which they scattered 
around in such a manner as to represent a fall of 
•now. These were followed by the young prince, 



jewitt's narrative. 39 

who was dressed in a long piece of yellow cloth, 
wrapped loosely around him, and decorated with 
small bells, with a cap on his head, to which was 
fastened a curious mask in imitation of a wolf's 
head, while the rear was brought up by the king 
himself in his robe of sea-otter skin, with a small 
whistle in his mouth and a rattle in his hand, with 
which he kept time to a sort of tune on his whis- 
tle. After passing very rapidly in this order 
around the house, each of them seated himself, 
except the prince, who immediately began his 
dance, which principally consisted in springing up 
into the air in a squat posture, and constantly turn- 
ing around on his heels with great swiftness in a 
very narrow circle. This dance with a few inter 
vals of rest, was continued for about two hours, 
during which the chiefs kept up a constant drum- 
ming with sticks of about a foot in length on a long 
hollow plank, which was, though a very noisy, a 
most doleful kind of music. This they accom- 
panied with songs, the king himself acting as chor- 
ister, while the women applauded each feat of 
activity in the dancer by repeating the words, Wo- 
cash! Wocash Tyee! that is good! very good 
prince. As soon as the dance was finished Maquina 
began to give presents to the strangers in the name 
of his son Sat-sat-sok-sis. These were pieces of 
European cloth generally of a fathom in length, 
muskets, powder, shot, &c. Whenever he gave 
them any thing, they had a peculiar manner of 
snatching it from him with a very stern and surly 
look,' repeating each time the words, Wocash Tyee, 
This I understood to be their custom, and was 
considered as a compliment which if omitted would 
be supposed as a mark of disregard for the present. 
On this occasion Maquina gave away no less than 



40 JEWITT S NARRATIVE. 

one hundred muskets, the same number of looking 
glasses, four hundred yards of cloth, and twenty 
casks of powder, besides other things. 

After receiving these presents, the strangers 
retired • on board their canoes, for so numerous 
were they that Maquina would not suffer any but 
the chiefs to sleep in the houses; and in order to 
prevent the property from being pillaged by them, 
he ordered Thompson and myself to keep guard, 
during the night, armed with cutlasses and pistols. 

In this manner tribes of savages from various 
parts of the coast, continued coming for several 
days, bringing with them, blubber, oil, herring 
spawn, dried fish and clams, for which they re- 
ceived in return, presents of cloth, &c. after which 
they in general immediately returned home. I 
observed that very few, if any of them, except the 
chiefs, had arms, which I afterwards learned is the 
custom with these people whenever they come 
upon a friendly visit or to trade, in order to show, 
on their approach, that their intentions are pacific. 
■ Early on the morning of the 18th the ship was 
discovered to be on fire. This was owing to one 
of the savages having gone on board with a fire 
brand at night for the purpose of plunder, some 
sparks from which fell into the hold, and com- 
municating with some combustibles soon enveloped 
the whole in flames. The natives regretted the 
loss of the ship the more as a great part of her 
cargo still remained on board. To my compan- 
ion and myself it was a most melancholy sight, for 
with her disappeared from our eyes every trace of 
a civilized country; but the disappointment we ex- 
perienced was still more severely felt, for we had 
calculated on having the provision to ourselves, 
which would have furnished us with a stock for 



jewitt's narrative. 41 

years, as whatever is cured with salt, together with 
most of our other articles of food, are never eaten 
by these people. I had luckily saved all my tools 
excepting the anvil, and the bellows which was 
attached to the forge, and from their weight had 
not been brought on shore. We had also the good 
fortune in looking over what had been taken from 
the ship to discover a box of chocolate and a case 
of port wine, which as the Indians were not fond 
of it proved a great comfort to us for some time, 
and from one of the natives I obtained a nautical 
almanack, which had belonged to the Captain, and 
which was of great use to me in determining the 
time. 

About two days after, on examining their booty, 
the savages found a tierce of rum with which they 
were highly delighted, as they have become very 
fond of spirituous liquors since their intercourse 
with the whites. — This was towards evening, and 
Maquina having assembled all the men at his house, 
gave a feast, at which they drank so freely of the 
rum, that in a short time, they became so extreme- 
ly wild and frantic that Thompson and myself, 
apprehensive for our safety, thought it prudent to 
retire privately into the woods, where we contin- 
ued till past midnight. On our return we found 
the women gone, who are always very temperate, 
drinking nothing but water, having quitted the house 
and gone to the other huts to sleep, so terrified 
were they at the conduct of the men, who all lay 
stretched out on the floor in a state of complete 
intoxication. How easy in this situation would it 
have been for us to have dispatched or made our- 
selves masters of our enemies, had there been any 
ship near to which we could have escaped, but as 
we were situated, the attempt would have been 
4* 



42 jewitt's narrative. 

madness. The wish of revenge was however 
less strongly impressed on my mind, than what 
appeared to be so evident an interposition of di- 
vine Providence in our favour. How little can 
man penetrate its designs, and how frequently is 
that intended as a blessing which he views as a 
curse. The burning of our ship which we had 
lamented so much, as depriving us of so many 
comforts, now appeared to us in a very different 
light, for had the savages got possession of th* 
rum of which there were nearly twenty puncheons 
on board, we must inevitably have fallen a sacri- 
fice to their fury in some of their moments of in- 
toxication. This cask fortunately and a case of 
gin was all the spirits they obtained from the ship. 
To prevent the recurrence of similar danger I ex- 
amined the cask, and finding still a considerable 
quantity remaining, I bored a small hole in the 
bottom with a gimblet, which before morning to 
my great joy completely emptied it. 

By this time the wound in my head began to be 
much better, so that I could enjoy some sleep, 
which I had been almost deprived of by the pain, 
and though I was still feeble from the loss of blood 
and my sufferings, I found myself sufficiently well 
to go to work at my trade, in making for the king 
and his wives bracelets and other small ornaments 
of copper or steel, and in repairing the arms, making 
use of a large square stone for the anvil, and heat- 
ing my metal in a common wood fire. This was 
very gratifying to Maquina and his women particu- 
larly, and secured me their good will. 

In the mean time great numbers from the other 
tribes kept continually flocking to Nootka, bringing 
with them in exchange for the ship's plunder such 
quantities of provision, that notwithstanding the 



jewitt's narrative. 43 

little success that Maquina met with in whaling 
this season, and their gluttonous waste, always eat- 
ing to excess when they have it, regardless of the 
morrow, seldom did the natives experience any 
want of food during the summer. As to my- 
self and companion we fared as they did, never 
wanting for such provision as they had, though 
we were obliged to eat it cooked in their manner 
and with train oil as a sauce, a circumstance not a 
little unpleasant, both from their uncleanly mode 
of cooking, and many of the articles of their food 
which to an European are very disgusting, but, as 
the saying is, hunger will break through stone w^alls, 
and we found at times in the blubber of sea animals 
and the flesh of the dog fish, loathsome as it in 
general v T as, a very acceptable repast. But much 
oftener would poor Thompson, who was no favorite 
with them, have suffered from hunger had it not been 
for my furnishing him with provision — This I was 
enabled to do from my work, Maquina allowing me 
the privilege, when not employed for him, to work 
for myself in making bracelets and other orna- 
ments of copper, fish-hooks, daggers, &c. either 
to sell to the tribes who visited us, or for our own 
chiefs, who on these occasions, besides supplying 
me with as much as I wished to eat, and a suffi- 
ciency for Thompson, almost always made me a 
present of an European garment taken from the 
ship or some fathoms of cloth, which were made 
up by my comrade, and enabled us to go com- 
fortably clad for some time, or small bundles of 
penknives, razors, scissors, &c. for one of which 
we could almost always procure from the natives 
two or three fresh salmon, cod, or halibut; or 
dried fish, clams and herring spawn from the stran- 
ger tribes; and had we only been permitted to 



44 jewitt's narrative. 

cook them after our own way, as we had pots, 
and other utensils belonging to the ship, we should 
not have had much cause of complaint in this res- 
pect ; but so tenacious are these people of their 
customs, particularly in the article of food and 
cooking, that the king always obliged me to give 
whatever provisions I bought to the women to 
cook — and one day finding Thompson and myself 
on the shore employed in boiling down sea-water 
into salt, on being told what it was, he was very 
much displeased, and taking the little we had pro- 
cured, threw it into the sea. In one instance 
alone, as a particular favor, he allowed me to boil 
some salmon in my own way, when I invited him 
and his queen to eat with me; they tasted it, but 
did not like it, and made their meal of some of it 
that I had cooked in their country fashion. 

In May, the weather became uncommonly 
mild and pleasant, and so forward was vegetation 
that I picked a plenty of strawberries by the mid- 
dle of the month. Of this fruit there are great 
quantities on this coast, and I found them a most 
delicious treat.— My health had now become almost 
re-established, my wound being so far healed that 
it gave me no farther trouble. I had never failed 
to wash it regularly once a day in sea water, and 
to dress it with a fresh leaf of tobacco, which I 
obtained from the natives, who had taken it from 
the ship, but made no use of it. This was all the 
dressing I gave it, except applying to it two or 
three times, a little loaf sugar, which Maquina gave 
me, in order to remove some proud flesh which 
prevented it from closing. My cure would doubt- 
less have been much sooner effected had I have 
been in a civilized country, where I could have 
had it dresspd by a surgeon and properly attended 



45 

to. But alas! I had no good Samaritan with oil 
and wine to bind up my wounds, and fortunate 
might I even esteem myself, that I was permitted 
to dress it myself, for the utmost that I could 
expect from the natives was compassion for 
my misfortune, which I indeed experienced from 
the women, particularly the queen, or favorite wife 
of Maquina, the mother of Sat-sat-sox-sis, who 
used frequently to point to my head and mani- 
fest much kindness and solicitude forme. I must 
do Maquina the justice to acknowledge that he al- 
ways appeared desirous of sparing me any labour 
which he believed might be hurtful to me, frequently 
enquiring in an affectionate manner, if my head pain- 
ed me. As for the others, some of the chiefs ex- 
cepted, they cared little what became of me, and 
probably would have been gratified with my death. 
My health being at length re-established and my 
wound healed, Thompson became very importu- 
nate for me to begin my journal, and as I had no 
ink, proposed to cut his finger to supply me with 
blood for the purpose whenever I should want it. 
Oh the first of June I accordingly commenced a 
regular diary, but had no occasion to make use of 
the expedient suggested by my comrade, having 
found a much better substitute in the expressed 
juice of a certain plant, which furnished me with a 
bright green colour, and aftei making a number of 
trials I at length succeeded in obtaining a very tole- 
rable ink. by boiling the juice of the black-berry 
with a mixture of finely powdered charcoal and 
filtering it through a cloth. This I afterwards pre- 
served in bottles and found it answer very well, 
so true is it that "necessity is the mother of in- 
vention." As for quills I found no difficulty in 
procuring them, whenever I wanted, from the 



46 jewitt's narrative. 

crows and ravens with which the beach was almost 
always covered, attracted by the offal of whales, 
seals, &c. and which were so tame that I could 
easily kill them with stones, while a large clam 
shell furnished me with an ink stand. 

The extreme solicitude of Thompson that I 
should begin my journal, might be considered as 
singular in a man, who neither knew how to write 
or read, a circumstance by the way, very uncom- 
mon in an American, were we less acquainted with 
the force of habit, he having been for many years 
at sea, and accustomed to consider the keeping of 
a journal as a thing indispensable. Tins man was 
born in Philadelphia, and at eight years old ran 
away from his friends, and entered as a cabin boy 
on board a ship bound to London; on his arrival 
there finding himself in distress, he engaged as an 
apprentice to the captain of a Collier, from whence 
he was impressed on board an Englishman of war, 
and continued in the British naval service about 
twenty-seven years, during which he was present 
at the engagement under Lord Howe with the 
French fleet in June, 1794, and when peace was 
made between England and France was discharged. 
He was a very strong and powerful man, an ex- 
pert boxer, and perfectly fearless; indeed so little 
was his dread of danger, that when irritated he 
was wholly regardless of his life. Of this the fol- 
lowing will furnish a sufficient proof. 

One evening about the middle of April, as I 
was at the house of one of the chiefs, where I had 
been employed on some work for him, word was 
brought me that Maquina was going to kill Thomp- 
son. I immediately hurried home, where I found 
the king in the act of presenting a loaded musket 
at Thon^-to^, who was stasfcg before him with 



jewitt's narrative. 47 

his breast bared and calling on him to fire. I in- 
stantly stepped up to Maquina, who was foaming 
with rage, and addressing him in soothing words, 
begged him for my sake not to kill my father, and 
at length succeeded in taking the musket from him 
and persuading him to sit down. On enquiring 
into the cause of his anger, I learned that while 
Thompson was lighting the lamps in the king '3 
room, Maquina having substituted our's for their 
pine torches, some of the boys began to teaze him, 
running around him and pulling him by the trow- 
sers, among the most forward of whom was the 
young prince. This caused Thompson to spill 
the oil, which threw him into such a passion, that 
without caring what he did, he struck the prince 
so violent a blow in his face with his fist as to 
knock him down. The sensation excited among 
the savages by an act, which was considered as 
the highest indignity, and a profanation of the sa- 
cred person of majesty may be easily conceived. 
The king was immediately acquainted with it, who, 
on coming in and seeing his son's face covered 
with blood, seized a musket and began to load it, 
determined to take instant revenge on the auda- 
cious offender; and had I arrived a few minutes 
later than I did, my companion would certainly 
have paid with his life for his rash and violent con- 
duct. I found the utmost difficulty in pacifying 
Maquina, who for a long time after could not for- 
give Thompson, but would repeatedly say, u John, 
you die — Thompson kill." — But to appease the 
king was not all that was necessary. In conse- 
quence of the insult offered to their prince, the 
whole tribe held a council, in which it was unani- 
mously resolved that Thompson should be put to 
death in the most cruel manner. I however inter- 



48 jewitt's narrative. 

ceded so strenuously with Maquina, for his life, 
telling him that if my father was killed, I was de- 
termined not to survive him, that he refused to 
deliver him up to the vengeance of his people, 
saying, that for John's sake they must consent to 
let him live. The prince, who, after I had suc- 
ceeded in calming his father, gave me an account 
of what had happened, told me that it was wholly 
out of regard to me, as Thompson was my father, 
that his life had been spared, for that if any one 
of the tribe should dare to lift a hand against him 
in anger, he would most certainly be put to death. 
Yet even this narrow escape produced not much 
effect on Thompson, or induced him to restrain 
the violence of his temper. For not many weeks 
after, he was guilty of a similar indiscretion, in 
striking the eldest son of a chief, who was about 
eighteen years old, and according to their custom 
was considered as a Tyee, or chief himself, in 
consequence of his having provoked him by call- 
ing him a white slave. This affair caused great 
commotion in the village, and the tribe was very 
clamorous for his death, but Maquina would not 
consent. I used frequently to remonstrate with 
him on the imprudence of his conduct and beg 
him to govern his temper better, telling him, it 
was our duty, since our lives were in the power of 
these savages, to do nothing to exasperate them. 
But all I could say on this point availed little, for 
so bitter was the hate he felt for them, which he 
was no way backward in manifesting both by his 
looks and actions, that he declared he never would 
submit to their insults, and that he had much 
rather be killed than be obliged to live among 
them, adding that he only wished he had a good 
vessel and some guns, and he would destroy the 



jewitt's narrative. 45 

whole of the cursed race; for to a brave sailor like 
him, who had fought the French and Spaniards 
with glory, it was a punishment worse than death 
to be a slave to such a poor, ignorant, despicable 
set of beings. 

As for myself I thought very differently. After 
returning thanks to that merciful Being who had in 
so wonderful a manner softened the hearts of the 
savages in my favour, I had determined from the 
first of my capture to adopt a conciliating conduct 
towards them, and conform myself, as far as was 
in my power, to their customs and mode of think- 
ing, trusting that the same divine goodness that 
had rescued me frpm death, would not always suf- 
fer me to languish in captivity among these hea- 
then. With this view I sought to gain their good 
will by always endeavouring to assume a cheerful 
countenance, appearing pleased with their sports 
and buffoon tricks, making little ornaments for the 
wives and children of the chiefs, by which means 
I became quite a favorite with them, and fish 
hooks, daggers, &c. for themselves. As a farther 
recommendation to their favour, and what might 
eventually prove of the utmost importance to us, I 
resolved to learn their language, which in the 
course of a few months residence, I so far suc- 
ceeded in acquiring, as to be able in general to 
make myself well understood. I likewise tried to 
persuade Thompson to learn it as what might prove 
necessary to him. But he refused, saying, that 
he hated both them and their cursed lingo, and 
would have nothing to do with it. 

By pursuing this conciliatory plan, so far did I 

gain the good will of the savages, particularly the 

chiefs, that I scarcely ever failed experiencing kind 

treatment from them, and was received with a 

5 



50 jewitt's narrative. 

smile of welcome at their houses, where I was 
always sure of having something given me to eat, 
whenever they had it, and many a good meal have 
I had from them, when they themselves were short 
of provisions and suffering for the want of them. 
And it was a common practice with me when we 
had nothing to eat at home which happened not 
unfrequently during my stay among them, to go 
around the village, and on noticing a smoke from 
any of the houses, which denoted that they were 
cooking, enter in without ceremony and ask them 
for something, which I was never refused. Few 
nations indeed, are there, so very rude and unfeel- 
ing, whom constant mild treatment and an attention 
to please, will not mollify and obtain from them 
some return of kind attention. This, the treat- 
ment I received from these people may exemplify, 
for not numerous, even among those calling them- 
selves civilized, are there instances to be found of 
persons depriving themselves of food to give it to 
a stranger, whatever may be his merits. 

It may perhaps be as well in this place to give 
a description of Nootka, some accounts of the 
tribes who were accustomed to visit us, and the 
manners and customs of the people, as far as I 
hitherto hacf an opportunity of observing them. 

The village of Nootka, is situated in between 
49 and 50 deg. N. lat. at the bottom of Friendly 
Cove, on the West or North West side. It con- 
sists of about twenty houses or huts, on a small 
hill which rises with a gentle ascent from the shore. 
Friendly Cove which affords good and secure an- 
chorage for ships close in with the shore is a small 
harbour of not more than a quarter or half a mile 
in length, and about half a mile or three quarters 
broau formed by the line of coast on the East, 



jewitt's narrative. 51 

and a long point, or headland which extends as 
much as three leagues into the sound in nearly a 
Westerly direction. This as well as I can judge 
from what I have seen of it, is in general from one 
to two miles in breadth, and mostly a rocky and 
unproductive soil with but few. trees. The East- 
ern and Western shores of this harbour are steep, 
and in many parts rocky, the trees growing quite 
to the water's edge, but the bottom to the North 
and North- West is a fine sandy beach of half a 
mile or more in extent. From the village to the 
North and North-East extends a plain, the soil of 
which is very excellent, and with proper cultiva- 
tion may be made to produce almost any of our 
European vegetables; this is but little more than 
half a mile in breadth, and is terminated by the sea 
coast, which in this place is lined with rocks and 
reefs and cannot be approached by ships. The 
coast in the neighbourhood of Nootka is in gene- 
ral low and but little broken into hills and vallies. 
The soil is good, well covered with fine forests of 
pine, spruce, beach and other trees, and abounds 
with streams of the finest water, the general ap- 
pearance being the same for many miles round. 

The village is 'situated on the ground occupied 
by the Spaniards, when they kept a garrison here; 
the foundations of the church and the governor's 
house are yet visible, and a few European plants 
are still to be found, which continue to be self- 
propagated, such as onions, peas, and turnips, but 
the two last are quite small, particularly the tur- 
nips, which afford us nothing but the tops for eat- 
ing. Their former village stood on the same spot, 
but the Spaniards finding it a commodious situa- 
tion, demolished the houses and forced the inhab- 
itants to retire five or sis miles into the country. 



52 jewitt's narrative. 

With great sorrow, as Maquina told me, did they 
find themselves compelled to quit their ancient 
place of residence, but with equal joy did they 
repossess themselves of it when the Spanish garri- 
son was expelled by the English. 

The houses as I have observed are above twen- 
ty in number, built" nearly in a line. These are 
of different sizes according to the rank or quality 
of the Tyee, or chief, who lives in them, each 
having one, of which he is considered as the lord. 
They vary not much in width, being usually from 
thirty-six to forty feet wide, but are of very differ- 
ent lengths, that of the king which is much the 
longest being about one hundred and fifty feet, 
while the smallest which contain only two families 
do not exceed forty feet in length, the house of 
the king is also distinguished from the others by 
being higher. 

Their method of building, is as follows, they 
erect in the ground two very large posts at such a 
distance apart as is intended for the length of the 
house. On these, which are of equal height, and 
hollowed out at the upper end, they lay a large 
spar for the ridgepole of the building, or if the 
length of the house requires it, two or more, sup- 
porting their ends by similar upright posts; these 
spars are sometimes of an almost incredible size, 
having myself measured one in Maquina's house 
which I found to be one hundred feet long and 
eight feet four inches in circumference. At equal 
distances from these two posts two others are 
placed on each side, to form the width of the 
building; these are rather shorter than the first, 
and on them are laid in like manner spars, but of 
a smaller size, having the upper part hewed flat, 
with a narrow ridge on the outer side to support 



/ jewitt's narrative. 53 

the ends of the planks. The roof is formed of 
pine planks with a broad feather edge, so as to lap 
well over each other, which are laid lengthwise 
from the ridgepole in the centre, to the beams at 
the sides, after which the top is covered with 
planks of eight feet broad, which form a kind of 
covering projecting so far over the ends of the 
planks, that form the roof, as completely to ex- 
clude the rain. On these they lay large stones to 
prevent their being displaced by the wind. The 
ends of the planks are not secured to the beams on 
which they are laid by any fastening, so that in a 
high storm I have often known all the men obliged 
to turn out and go upon the roof to prevent them 
from being blown off, carrying large stones and 
pieces of rock with them to secure the boards, al- 
ways stripping themselves naked on these occasions 
whatever may be the severity of the weather, to 
prevent their garments from being wet and mud- 
died, as these storms are almost always accompa- 
nied with heavy rains. The sides of their houses 
are much more open and exposed to the weather, 
this proceeds from their not being so easily made 
close as the roof, being built with planks of about 
ten feet long and four or five wide, which they 
place between stancheons or small posts of the 
height of the roof, of these there are four to each 
range of boards, two at each end and so near each 
other as to leave space enough for admitting a 
plank. The planks or boards which they make 
use of for building their houses, and for other uses, 
they procure of different lengths as occasion re- 
quires, by splitting them out, with hard w T ooden 
wedges from pine logs, and afterwards dubbing 
them down with their chizzels, with much patience, 
5* 



54 jewitt's narrative. 

to the thickness wanted, rendering them quite 
smooth. 

There is but one entrance; this is placed usual- 
ly at the end, though sometimes in the middle as 
was that of Maquina's. Through the middle of 
the building from one end to the other, runs a 
passage of about eight or nine feet broad, on each 
side of which, the several families that occupy it, 
live, each having its particular fire-place, but with- 
out any kind of wall or separation to mark their 
respective limits; the chief having his apartment 
at the upper end, and the next in rank opposite on 
the other side. They have no other floor than 
the ground; the fire-place or hearth consists of a 
number of stones loosely put together, but they 
are wholly without a chimney, nor is there any 
opening left in the roof, but whenever a fire is 
made, the plank immediately over it is thrust aside, 
by means of a pole, to give vent to the smoke. 
The height of the houses in general, from the 
ground to the centre of the roof does not exceed 
ten feet, that of Maquina's was not far from four- 
teen; the spar forming the ridgepole of the latter 
was painted in red and black circles alternately by 
way of ornament, and the large posts that support- 
ed it had their tops curiously wrought or carved, 
so as to represent human heads of a monstrous size, 
which were painted in their manner. These were 
not, however, considered as objects of adoration, 
but merely as ornaments. 

The furniture of these people is very simple, 
and consists only of boxes in which they put their 
clothes, furs, and such things as they hold most val- 
uable; tubs for keeping their provision of spawn and 
blubber in; trays from which they eat; baskets for 



jewitt's narrative. 55 

their dried fish and other purposes, and bags made 
of bark matting, of which they also make their 
beds, spreading a piece of it upon the ground when 
they lie down, and using no other bed covering 
than their garments. The boxes are of pine, with 
a top that shuts over, and instead of nails or pegs 
are fastened with flexible twigs, they are extreme- 
ly smooth and high polished, and sometimes orna- 
mented with rows of very small white shells. 
The tubs are of a square form, secured in the like 
manner, and of various sizes, some being extreme- 
ly large, having seen them that were six feet long 
by four broad and five deep. The Trays are hol- 
lowed out with their chizzels from a solid block of 
wood, and the baskets and mats are made from the 
bark of trees. From this they likewise make the 
cloth for their garments, in the following manner. 
A quantity of this bark is taken and put into fresh 
water w T here it is kept for a fortnight to give it 
time to completely soften; it is then taken out and 
beaten upon a plank, with an instrument made of 
bone or some very hard wood, having grooves or 
hollows on one side of it, care being taken to keep 
the mass Constantly moistened with water, in order 
to separate with more ease the hard and woody 
from the soft and fibrous parts, which, when com- 
pleted, they parcel out into skeins, like thread. 
These they lay in the air to bleach, and afterwards 
dye them black or red as suits their fancies, their 
natural colour being a pale yellow. In order to 
form the cloth, the women by whom the whole of 
this process is performed, take a certain number of 
these skeins and twist them together by rolling 
them with their hands upon their knees, into hard 
rolls,- which are afterwards connected by means of 
a strong thread made for the purpose. 



56 jewitt's narrative. 

Their dress usually consists of but a single gar- 
ment, which is a loose cloak or mantle (called 
Kuisack) in one piece, reaching nearly to the feet. 
This is tied loosely over the right or left shoulder 
so as to leave the arms at full liberty. 

Those of the common people are painted red 
with ochre the better to keep out the rain, but the 
chiefs wear them of their native colour, which is 
a pale yellow, ornamenting them with borders of 
the sea otter skin, a kind of grey cloth made of 
the hair of some animal which they procure from 
the tribes to the South, or their own cloth wrought 
or painted with various figures in red or black, 
representing men's heads, the sun and moon, fish 
and animals, which are frequently executed with 
much skill. They have also a girdle of the same 
kind for securing this mantle, or Kutsack, around 
..hem, which is in general still more highly orna- 
mented, and serves them to wear their daggers and 
knives in. In winter however, they sometimes 
make use of an additional garment, which is a kind 
of hoed, with a hole in it for the purpose of ad- 
mitting the head, and falls over the breast and back 
as low as the shoulders; this is bordered both at 
top and bottom with fur, and is never worn except 
when they go out. The garments of the women 
vary not essentially from those of the men, the 
mantle having holes in it for the purpose of admit 
ting the arms, and being tied close under the chin, 
instead of over the shoulder. The chiefs have 
also mantles of the sea otter skin, but these are 
only put on upon extraordinary occasions, and one 
that is made from the skin of a certain large ani- 
mal, which is brought from the South by the 
Wickanninish and Kla-iz-zarts. This they pre- 
pare by dressing it in warm water, scraping off 



jewitt's narrative. 57 

the hair and what flesh adheres to it carefully with 
sharp muscle shells, and spreading it out in the 
sun to dry, on a wooden frame, so as to preserve 
the shape. When dressed in this manner it be- 
comes perfectly white and as pliable as the best 
deer's leather, but almost as thick again. They 
then paint it in different figures with such paints as 
they usually employ in decorating their persons: 
these figures mostly represent human heads, canoes 
employed in catching whales, &c. This skin is 
called Metamelth and is probably got from an ani- 
mal of the moose kind, it is highly prized by these 
people, is their, great war dress, and only worn 
when they wish to make the best possible display 
of themselves. Strips or bands of it, painted as 
above, are also sometimes used by them for gir- 
dles or the bordering of their cloaks, and also for 
bracelets and ancle ornaments by some of the infe- 
rior class. 

On their heads when they go out upon any ex- 
cursion, particularly whaling or fishing, they wear 
a kind of cap or bonnet in form not unlike a large 
sugar loaf with the top cut off. This is made of 
the same materials with their cloth, but is in gener- 
al of a closer texture and by way of tassel has a 
long strip of the skin of the Metamelth attached to 
it, covered with rows of small white shells or 
beads. Those worn by the common people are 
painted entirely red, the chiefs having theirs of 
different colours. The one worn by the king and 
which serves to designate him from all the others, 
is longer and broader at the bottom; the top, in 
stead of being flat, having upon it an ornament in 
the figure of a small urn. It is also of a much 
finer texture than the others and plaited or wrought 
in black and white stripes with the representation 



5S jewitt's narrative. 

in front of a canoe in pursuit of a whale with the 
harpooner standing in the prow prepared to strike. 
This bonnet is called Seeya-poks. 

Their mode of living is very simple — their food 
consisting almost wholly of fish, or fish spawn fresh 
or dried, the blubber of the whale, seal, or sea-cow, 
muscles, clams, and berries of various kinds; all 
of which are eaten with a profusion of train oil for 
sauce, not excepting even the most delicate fruit, 
as strawberries and raspberries. With so little 
variety in their food, no great can be expected, in 
their cookery. Of this, indeed, they may be said 
to know but two methods, viz. by boiling and steam- 
ing, and even the latter is not very frequently prac- 
tised by them. Their mode of boiling is as follows: 
into one of their tubs, they pour water sufficient 
to cook the quantity of provision wanted. A num- 
ber of heated stones are then put in to make it boil, 
when the salmon or other fish are put in without 
any other preparation than sometimes cutting off 
the heads, tails and fins, the boiling in the mean 
time being kept up by the application of the hot 
stones, after wl lie h it is left to cook until the whole 
is nearly reduced to one mass. It is then taken 
out and distributed in the trays. In a similar man- 
ner they cook their blubber and spawn, smoked or 
dried fish, and in fine, almost every thing they eat, 
nothing going down with them like broth. 

When they cook their fish by steam, which are 
usually the heads, tails, and fins of the salmon, cod 
and halibut, a large fire is kindled, upon which 
they place abed of stones, which, when the wood 
is burnt down, becomes perfectly heated. Lay- 
ers of green leaves or pine boughs, are then plac- 
ed upon the stones, and the fish, clams, &c. being 
.aid upon them, water is poured over them, and 



59 

the whole closely covered with mats to keep in 
the steam. This is much the best mode of cook- 
ing, and clams and muscles done in this manner, 
are really excellent. These, as I have said, may 
be considered as their only kinds of cookery; 
though 1 have in a very few instances known them 
dress the roe or spawn of the salmon and the her- 
ring, when first taken, in a different manner; this 
was by roasting them, the former being supported 
between two split pieces of pine, and the other 
having a sharp stick run through it, with one end 
fixed in the ground; sprats are also roasted by them 
in this way, a number being spitted on one stick; 
and this kind of food, with a little salt, would be 
found no contemptible eating even to a European. 
At their meals they seat themselves upon the 
ground, with their feet curled up under them, 
around their trays, which are generally about three 
feet long by one board, and from six to eight inch- 
es deep. In eating they make use of nothing but 
their fingers, except for tlie soup or oil, which 
they lade out with clam shells. Around one of 
these trays, from four to six persons will^seat 
themselves, constantly dipping in their fingers or 
clam shells, one after the other. — The king and 
chiefs alone have separate trays, from which no 
one is permitted to eat with them, except the queen, 
or principal wife of the chief, and whenever the 
king or one of the chiefs wishes to distinguish any 
of his people with a special mark of favour on 
these occasions, he calls him and gives him some 
of the choice bits from his tray. The slaves eat 
at the same time, and of the same provisions, far- 
ing in this respect as well as their masters, being 
seated with the family and only feeding from sep- 
arate trays. Whenever a feast is given by the 



60 

king or any of the chiefs, there is a person who 
acts as a master of ceremonies, and whose busi- 
ness it is to receive the guests as they enter the 
house and point out to them their respective seats, 
which is regulated with great punctiliousness as re- 
gards rank; the king occupying the highest or the 
seat of honour, his son or brother sitting next him, 
and so on with the chiefs according to their quali- 
ty; the private persons belonging to the same fami- 
ly being always placed together to prevent any 
confusion. The women are seldom invited to 
their feasts, and only at those times when a gener- 
al invitation is given to the village. 

As whenever they cook, they always calculate 
to have an abundance for all the guests, a profusion 
in this respect being considered as the highest luxu- 
ry, much more is usually set before them than they 
can eat. That which is left in the king's tray he 
sends to his house for his family, by one of his 
slaves, as do the chiefs theirs, while those who eat 
from the same tray and who generally belong to 
the same family, take it home as common stock, 
or each one receives his portion, which is distribut- 
ed on the spot. This custom appeared very singu- 
lar to my companion and myself, and it was a most 
awkward thing for us at first, to have to lug home 
with us, in our hands or arms, the blubber or fish 
that we received at these times; but we soon be- 
came reconciled to it, and were very glad of an 
opportunity to do it. 

In point of personal appearance the people of 
Nootka are among the best looking of any of the 
tribes that I have seen. The men are in general 
from about five feet six to five feet eight inches 
in height; remarkably straight, of a good form, ro- 
bust, and strong, with their limbs in general well 



jewitt's narrative. 61 

turned and proportioned excepting the legs and feet, 
which are clumsy and ill formed, owing no doubt 
to their practice of sitting on them, though I have 
seen instances in which they were very well sha- 
ped; this defect is more particularly apparent in 
the women, who are for the most part of the time 
within doors, and constantly sitting while employ- 
ed in their cooking and other occupations. The 
only instance of deformity that I saw among them 
was a man of dwarfish stature; he was thirty years 
old and but three feet three inches high; he had 
however no other defect than this diminutive size, 
being well made, and as strong and able to bear 
fatigue as what they were in general. Their com- 
plexion, when freed from the paint and oil with 
which their skins are generally covered, is a brown, 
somewhat inclining to a copper cast. The shape 
of the face is oval; the features are tolerably regu- 
lar, the lips being thin and the teeth very white 
and even: their eyes are black but rather small, 
and the nose pretty well formed, being neither flat 
nor very prominent: their hair is black, long and 
coarse, but they have no beard, completely extir- 
pating it, as well as the hair from their bodies, 
Maquina being the only exception, who suffered 
his beard to grow on his upper lip, in the manner 
of mustachios, which was considered as a mark 
of dignity. As to the women they are much 
whiter, many of them not being darker than 
those in some of the Southern parts of Europe. 
They are in general very well looking and 
some quite handsome. Maquina 's favorite wife 
in particular, who was a Wickinninish princess, 
would be considered as a beautiful woman in 
any country. She was uncommonly well form- 
ed, tall, and of a majestic appearance: her 
6 



62 jewitt's narrative. 

skin remarkably fair for one of these people, 
with considerable colour, her features handsome 
and her eyes black, soft, and languishing; her hair 
was very long, thick, and black, as is that of the 
females in general, which is much softer than that 
of the men; in this they take much pride, frequent- 
ly oiling and plaiting it carefully into two broad 
plaits, tying the ends with a strip of the cloth of 
the country and letting it hang down before on 
each side of the face. 

The women keep their garments much neater 
and cleaner than the men, and are extremely mod- 
est in their deportment and dress; their mantle or 
Katsack, which is longer than that of the men, 
reaching quite to their feet, and completely envel- 
oping them, being tied close under the chin, and 
bound with a girdle of the same cloth or of sea 
otter skin around their waists; it has also loose 
sleeves which reach to the elbows. Though fond 
of ornamenting their persons they are by no means 
so partial to paint as the men, merely colouring 
their eye-brows black and drawing a bright red 
stripe from each corner of the mouth towards the 
ear. Their ornaments consist chiefly of ear-rings, 
necklaces, bracelets, rings for the fingers and an- 
kles, and small nose jewels, (the latter are however 
wholly confined to the wives of the king or chiefs) 
these are principally made out of copper or brass, 
highly polished and of various forms and sizes; the 
nose jewel is usually a small white shell or bead 
suspended to a thread. The wives of the com- 
mon people frequently wear for bracelets and an- 
kle rings, strips of the country cloth or skin of 
the Metamelth painted in figures, and those of 
the king or principal chiefs bracelets and neck- 
laces, consisting of a number of strings of Ife-waw 



jewitt's narrative. 63 

an article much prized by them, and which makes 
a very handsome appearance. This Ife-waw, as 
they term it, is a kind of shell of a dazzling white- 
ness, and as smooih as ivory, it is of a cylindrical 
form, in a slight degree curved, about the size of 
a goose quill, hollow, three inches in length and 
gradually tapering to a point, which is broken off 
by the natives as it is taken from the water; this 
they afterwards string upon threads of bark, and 
sell it by the fathom; it forms a kind of circulating 
medium among these nations, five fathoms being 
considered as the price of a slave their most valuable 
species of property. It is principally obtained 
from the Aitizzarts, a people living about thirty or 
forty miles to the Northward, who collect it from 
the reefs and sunken rocks with which their coast 
abounds, though it is also brought in considerable 
quantity from the South. Their mode oi taking 
it has been thus described to me. To one end 
of a pole is fastened a piece of plank in which a 
considerable number of pine pegs are inserted, 
made sharp at the ends; above the plank in order 
to sink it, a stone or some weight is tied, and the 
other end of the pole suspended to a long rope; 
this is let down perpendicularly by the Ife-icaio 
fishers in those places where that substance is found, 
which are usually frcm fifty to sixty fathoms deep; 
on finding the bottom they raise the pole up a few 
feet and let it fall, this they repeat a number of 
times as if sounding, when they draw it up and 
take off the Ife-ivaiv which is found adhering to 
the points. This method of procuring it is very 
laborious and fatiguing, especially as they seldom 
take more than two or three of these shells at a 
lime, and frequently none. 

Though the women, as I have said, make but 



64 jewitt's narrative. 

little use of paint, the very reverse is the case with 
the men. In decorating their heads and faces 
they place their principal pride, and none of our 
most fashionable beaus, when preparing for a grand 
ball can be more particular: For I have known 
Maquina after having been employed for more than 
an hour in painting his face, rub the whole off and 
recommence the operation anew when it did not 
entirely please him. The manner in which they 
paint themselves frequently varies, according to the 
occasion, but it oftener is the mere dictate of whim. 
— The most usual method is to paint the eye-brows 
black, in form of a half moon, and the face red in 
small squares, with the arms and legs and part of 
the body red; sometimes one half of the face is 
painted red in squares, and the other black; at 
others, dotted with red spots, or red and black in- 
stead of squares, with a variety of other devices, 
such as painting one half of the face and body red, 
and the other black. But a method of painting 
which they sometimes employed, and which they 
were much more particular in, was by laying on the 
face a quantity of bear's grease of about one eighth 
of an inch thick; this they raised up into ridges re- 
sembling a small bead in joiner's work, with a stick 
prepared for the purpose, and then painted them 
red, which gave the face a very singular appear- 
ance. On extraordinary occasions, the king and 
principal chiefs used to strew over their faces, af- 
ter painting, a fine black shining powder, procured 
from some mineral, as Maquina told me it was 
got from the rocks. This they call pelpelth, and 
value it highly, as, in their opinion, it serves to 
set off their looks to great advantage, glittering, 
especially in the sun, like silver. — This article is 
Drought them in bags by the Neiechcmass, a very 



65 

savage nation who live a long way to the North^ 
from whom they likewise receive a superior kind 
of red paint, a species of very fine and rich ochre, 
which they hold in much estimation. 

Notwithstanding this custom of painting them- 
selves, they make it an invariable practice, both in 
summer and winter, to bathe once a day, and some- 
times oftener; but as the paint is put on with oil, 
it is not much discomposed thereby, and whenever 
they wish to wash it off, they repair to some piece 
of fresh water and scour themselves with sand or 
rushes. 

In dressing their heads on occasion of a festi- 
val or visit, they are full as particular, and almost 
as long, as in painting. The hair, after being well 
oiled, is carefully gathered upon the top of the 
head and secured by a piece of pine or spruce 
bough with the green leaves upon it. After hav- 
ing it properly fixed in this manner, the king and 
principal chiefs used to strew all over it the white 
down obtained from a species of large brown eagle, 
which abounds on this coast, which they are very 
particular in arranging so as not to have a single 
feather out of place, occasionally wetting the hair 
to make it adhere. This, together with the bough, 
which is sometimes of considerable size, and stuck 
over with feathers by means of turpentine, gives 
them a very singular and grotesque appearance, 
which they, however, think very becoming, and 
the first thing they do on learning the arrival of 
strangers is to go and decorate themselves in this 
manner. 

The men also wear bracelets of painted leather 

or copper, and large ear-rings of the latter — but 

the ornament on which they appear to set the most 

value, is the nose -jewel, if such an appellation may 

6* i 



66 je witt's narrative. 

Jpe given to the wooden stick, which some of theai 
employ for this purpose. The king and chiefs, 
however, wear them of a different form, being 
either small pieces of polished copper or brass, of 
which I made many for them, in the shape of hearts 
and diamonds, or a twisted conical shell about half 
an inch in length of a blueish colour and very bright, 
which is brought from the South. These are sus- 
pended by a small wire or string to the hole, in 
the gristle of the nose, which is formed in infancy, 
by boring it with a pin, the hole being afterwards 
enlarged by the repeated insertion of wooden pegs 
of an increased size, until it becomes about the di- 
ameter of a pipe stem, though some have them of 
a size nearly sufficient to admit the little finger. — 
The common class who cannot readily procure the 
more expensive jewels that I have mentioned, 
substitute for them, usually, a smooth round stick, 
some of which are of an almost incredible length, 
for I have seen them projecting not less than eight 
or nine inches beyond the face on each side; this 
is made fast or secured in its place by little wedg- 
es on each side of it. These sprit-sail-yard fel- 
lows, as my mess-mate used to call them, when 
rigged out in this manner made quite a strange 
show, and it was his delight whenever he saw one 
of them coming towards us with an air of conse- 
quence proportioned to the length of his stick, to 
put up his hand suddenly as he was passing him, 
so as to strike the stick, in order, as he said, to 
brace him up sharp to the wind; this used to make 
them very angry, but nothing was more remote 
from Thompson's ideas than the wish to cultivate 
their favour. 

The natives of Nootka appear to have but little 
inclination for the chase, though some of them 



jewitt's narrative. 67 

were expert marksmen, and used sometimes to 
shoot ducks and geese, but the seal and the sej? 
otter form the principal objects of their hunting, 
particularly the latter. Of this animal, so much 
noted for its valuable skin, the following descrip- 
tion may not be uninteresting. The sea-otter is 
nearly five feet in length, exclusive of the tail, 
which is about twelve inches, and is very thick 
and broad where it joins the body, but gradually 
tapers to the end, which is tipped with white. 
The colour of the rest is a shining silky black, 
with the exception of a broad white stripe on the 
top of the head. Nothing can be more beautiful 
than one of these animals when seen swimming, 
especially when on the lockout for any object. 
At such times it raises its head quite above the 
surface, and the contrast between the shining 
black and. the white, together with its sharp ears 
and a long tuft of hair rising from the middle of 
its forehead, which look like three small horns, 
render it quite a novel and attractive object. 
They are in general very tame, and will permit a 
canoe or boat to approach very near before they 
dive. I was told, however, that they are become 
much more shy since they have been accustomed 
to shoot them with muskets, than when they used 
only arrows. The skin is held in great estimation 
in China, more especially that of the tail, the fur 
of which is finer and closer set than that on the 
body. This is always cut off and sold separately 
by the natives. The value of a skin is determin- 
ed by its size, that being considered as a prime 
skin which will reach, in length, from a man's 
chin to his feet. The food of the sea-otter is 
fish, which he is very dexterous in taking, being 
an excellent swimmer, with feet webbed like those 



68 

of a goose. — They appear to be wholly confined 
to the sea-coast, at least to the salt water. They 
have usually three or four young at a time, but I 
know not how often they breed, nor in what places 
they deposit their young, though I have frequently 
seen them swimming around the mother when no 
larger than rats. The flesh is eaten by the na- 
tives, cooked in their usual mode by boiling, and 
is far preferable to that of the seal of which they 
make much account. 

But if not great hunters there are few people 
more expert in fishing. Their lines are generally 
made from the sinew of the whale, and are ex- 
tremely strong. For the hook, they usually make 
use of a straight piece of hard wood, in the lower 
part of which is inserted and well secured, with 
thread or whale sinew, a bit of bone made very 
sharp at the point and bearded; but I used to make 
for them hooks from iron, which they preferred, 
not only as being less liable to break, but more 
certain of securing the fish. Cod, halibut, and 
other seafish were not only caught by them with 
hooks, but even salmon. To take this latter fish, 
they practise the following method — One person 
seats himself in a small canoe, and baiting his hook 
with a sprat, which they are always careful to pro- 
cure as fresh as possible, fastens his line to the 
handle of the paddle; this, as he plies it in the 
water, keeps the fish in constant motion, so as to 
give it the appearance of life, which the salmon 
seeing, leaps at it and is instantly hooked, and by 
a sudden and dexterous motion of the paddle, 
drawn on board. I have known some of the na- 
tives to take no less than eight or ten salmon of a 
morning in this manner, and have seen from twen- 
ty to thirty canoes at a time in Friendly Cove thus 



jewitt's narrative. 69 

employed. They are likewise little less skilful in 
taking the whale. This they kill with a kind of 
javelin or harpoon, thus constructed and fitted. 
The barbs are formed of bone which are sharpen- 
ed on the outer side and hollowed within for the 
purpose of forming a socket for the staff; these are 
then secured firmly together with whale sinew, 
the point being fitted so as to receive a piece of 
muscle shell which is ground to a very sharp edge, 
and secured in its place by means of turpentine. 
To this head or prong is fastened a strong line of 
whale sinew about nine feet in length, to the end 
of which is tied a bark rope from fifty to sixty 
fathoms long, having from twenty to thirty seal 
skin floats or buoys, attached to it at certain inter- 
vals, in order to check the motion of the whale 
and obstruct his diving. In the socket of the har- 
poon a staff or pole of about ten feet long, gradu- 
ally tapering from the middle to each end, is plac- 
ed: this the harpooner holds in his hand in order 
to strike the whale, and immediately detaches it as 
soon as the fish is struck. The whale is consid- 
ered as the king's fish, and no other person, when 
he is present, is permitted to touch him until the 
royal harpoon has first drawn his blood, however 
near he may approach; and it would be consider- 
ed almost as sacrilege for any of the common peo- 
ple to strike a whale, before he is killed, particu- 
larly if any of the chiefs should be present. They 
also kill the porpoise and sea cow with harpoons, 
but this inferior game is not interdicted the lower 
class. 

With regard to their canoes, some of the hand- 
somest to be found on "the whole coast are made 
at Nootka, though very fine ones are brought by 
the Wickanninish and the Klaiz-zarts, who have 



70 JEWITT'S NARRATIVE. 

them more highly ornamented. They are of all 
sizes, from such as are capable of holding only one 
person to their largest war canoes which will cany 
forty men, and are extremely light. Of these, the 
largest of any that I ever saw, was one belonging 
to Maquina, which I measured and found to be 
forty-two feet six inches in length at the bottom, 
and forty-six feet from stem to stem. These are 
made of pine hollowed out from a tree with their 
chisels solely, which are about three inches broad 
and six in length, and set into a handle of very 
hard wood. This instrument was formerly made 
of flint or some hard stone ground down to as 
sharp an edge as possible, but since they have 
learned the use of iron, they have almost all of 
them of that metal. Instead of a mallet for strik- 
ing this chisel, they make use of a smooth round 
stone, which they hold in the palm of the hand. 
With this same awkward instrument they not only 
excavate their canoes and trays and smooth their 
plank, but cut down such trees as they want, eith- 
er for building, fuel, or other purposes, a labour 
which is mostly done by their slaves. 

The falling of trees as practised by them is a 
slow and most tedious process, three of them be- 
ing generally from two to three days in cutting 
down a large one, yet so attached were they to 
their own method, that notwithstanding they saTv 
Thompson frequently with one of our axes, of 
which there was a number saved, fall a tree in less 
time than they could have gone round it with their 
chisels, still they could not be persuaded to make 
use of them. 

After hollowing out their canoes, which they do 
very neatly, they fashion the outside, and slightly 
burn it for the purpose of removing any splinters 



JEWITT's NARRATIVE. 71 

or small points that might obstruct its passage 
through the water, after which they rub it over 
thoroughly, with rushes or coarse mats, in order to 
smooth it, which not only renders it almost as 
smooth as glass, but forms a better security for 
it from the weather; this operation of burning 
and rubbing down the bottoms of their canoes is 
practised as often as they acquire any considerable 
degree of roughness from use. The outside, by 
this means becomes quite black, and to complete 
their work they paint the inside of a bright red, 
with ochre or some other similar substance; the 
prows and sterns are almost always ornamented 
with figures of ducks or some other kind of bird, 
the former being so fashioned as to represent the 
head and the latter the tail, these are separate pie- 
ces from the canoe, and are fastened to it with 
small flexible twigs or bark cord. Some of these 
canoes, particularly those employed in whaling, 
which will hold about ten men, are ornamented 
within about two inches below the gunwale, with 
two parallel lines on each side of very small white 
shells running fore and aft, which has a very pret- 
ty effect. Their war canoes have no ornament of 
this kind but are painted on the outside with fig- 
ures in white chalk representing eagles, whales, 
human heads, &c. They are very dexterous in 
ihe use of their paddles, which are very neatly 
wrought, and are five feet long with a short handle 
and a blade seven inches broad in the middle taper- 
ing to a sharp point. With these they will make 
a canoe skim very swiftly on the water with scarce- 
ly any noise, while they keep time to the stroke 
of the paddle with their songs. 

With regard to these they have a number which 



72 

tkey sing on various occasions; as war* whaling, 
and fishing, at their marriages and feasts, and at 
public festivals or solemnities. The language of 
the most of thepe appears to be very different, in 
many respects, from that used in their common 
conversation, which leads me to believe either 
that they have a different mode of expressing them- 
selves in poetry, or that they borrow their songs 
from their neighbors, and what the more particular- 
ly induces me to the latter opinion, is, that when- 
ever any of the Newchemass, a people from the 
Northward and who speak a very different lan- 
guage, arrived, they used to 4 tell me that they ex- 
pected a new song, and were almost always sure 
to have one. 

Their tunes are generally soft and plaintive, and 
though not possessing great variety, are not defi- 
cient in harmony. — Their singing is. generally ac- 
companied with several rude kinds of instrumental 
music; among the most prominent of which is a 
kind of drum. This is nothing more than a long 
plank hollowed out on the under side and made 
quite thin, which is beat upon by a stick of about 
a foot long and renders a sound not unlike beating 
on the head of an empty cask, but much louder. 
But the two most favorite instruments are the rat- 
tle and the pipe or whistle; these are however on- 
ly used by the king, the chiefs, or some particular 
persons; the former is made of dried seal-skin, so 
as to represent a fish, and is filled with a number 
of small smooth pebbles, it has a short handle and 
is painted red. The whistle is made of bone, 
generally the leg of a deer, it is short but emits a 

* A specimen of one of their war songs will be found at the end 
of this work. 



jewitt's narrative. 73 

rery shrill sound. They have likewise another 
kind of music, which they make use of in dancing, 
•in the manner of castanets, this is produced by a 
number of muscle or cockle shells tied together 
and shaken to a kind of tune, which is accompa- 
nied with the voice. 

Their slaves, as I have observed, form their 
most valuable species of property. — These are of 
both sexes, being either captives taken by them- 
selves in war, or purchased from the neighboring 
tribes, and who reside in the same house, forming 
as it were a part of the family, are usually kindly 
treated, eat of the same food, and live as well as- 
their masters. They are compelled however at 
times to labour severely, as not only all the meni- 
al offices are performed by them, such as bringing 
water, cutting wood and a variety of others, but 
they are obliged to make the canoes, to assist in 
building and repairing the houses, to supply their 
masters with fish, and to attend them to war and 
to fight for them. None but the king and chiefs 
have slaves, the common people being prevented 
from holding them either from thei v inability to 
purchase them, or as I am the racier inclined to 
think from its being considered as the privilege of 
the former alone to have them, especially as all 
those made prisoners in war belong either to the 
king or the chiefs, who have captured them, each 
one holding such as have been taken by himself or 
his slaves. There is probably however some lit- 
tle distinction in favour of the king, who is always 
the commander of the expedition, as Maquina had 
nearly fifty, male and female, in his house, a num- 
ber constituting about one half of its inhabitants, 
comprehending those obtained by war and purchase, 
whereas none of ths other chiefs had more than 
1 



74 

twelve. The females are employed principally in 
manufacturing cloth, in cooking, collecting berries, 
&c. and with regard to food and living in general 
have not a much harder lot than their mistresses, 
the principal difference consisting, in these poor 
unfortunate creatures being considered as free to 
any one, their masters prostituting them whenever 
they think proper for the purpose of gain. In this 
way many of them are brought on board the ships 
and offered to the crews, from whence an opinion 
appears to have been formed by some of our navi- 
gators, injurious to the chastity of their females, 
.than which nothing can be more generally untrue, 
as perhaps in no part of the world is that virtue 
more prized. 

The houses at Nootka as already stated, are 
about twenty, without comprising those inhabited 
by the Klahars, a small tribe that has been con- 
quered and incorporated into that of Nootka, 
though they must be considered as in a state of 
vassalage as they are not permitted to have any 
chiefs among them, and live by themselves in a 
cluster of small houses at a little distance from the 
village. The Nootka tribe which consists of about 
five hundred warriors, is not only more numerous 
than almost any of the neighbouring tribes, but far 
exceeds them in the strength and martial spirit of 
its people; and in fact there are but few nations 
within a hundred miles either to the North or 
South but are considered as tributary to them. 

In giving some account of the tribes that were 
accustomed to visit Nootka, I shall commence at 
the Southward with the Kla-iz-zarts, and the Wick- 
inninish, premising that in point of personal appear- 
ance there prevails a wonderful diversity between 
the various tribes on the coast, with the exception 



jewitt's narrative. 75 

of the feet and legs, which are badly shaped in al- 
most all of them from their practice of sitting on 
them. The Kla-iz-zarts are a numerous and 
powerful tribe, living nearly three hundred miles 
to the South, and are said to consist of more than 
a thousand warriors. They appear to be more 
civilized than any of the others, being better and 
more neatly dressed, more mild and affable in their 
manners, remarkable for their sprightliness and 
vivacity, and celebrated for their singing and danc- 
ing. They exhibit also great marks of im- 
provement in whatever is wrought by them; their 
canoes, though not superior to those of Nootkain 
point of form and lightness, being more highly or- 
namented, and their weapons and tools of every 
kind have a much higher finish and display more 
skill in the workmanship. Their cast of counte- 
nance is very different from that of the Nootkians, 
their faces being very broad, with a less prominent 
nose and smaller eyes, and the top of the head 
flattened as if it had been pressed down with a 
weight. Their complexion is also much fairer, 
and their stature shorter, though they are well 
formed and strongly set. They have a custom 
which appears to be peculiar to them, as I never 
observed it in any of the other tribes, which is to 
pluck out not only their beards, and the hair from 
their bodies, but also their eye-brows, so as not 
to leave a vestige remaining. They were also in 
general more skilful in painting and decorating 
themselves, and I have seen some of them with 
no less than a dozen holes in each of their ears to 
which were suspended strings of small beads about 
two inches in length. Their language is the same 
as spoken at Nootka, but their pronunciation is 
much more hoarse and guttural. These people 



76 jewitt's narrative. 

are not only very expert in whaling, but are great 
hunters of the sea otter and other animals with 
which their country is said to abound, as the Me- 
tamelth a large animal of the deer kind, the skin 
of which I have already spoken of, another of a 
light grey colour, with very fine hair from which 
they manufacture a handsome cloth, the beaver and 
a species of large wild cat, or tyger cat. 

The Wickinninish, their neighbours on the 
North, are about two hundred miles from Nootka. 
They are a robust, strong and warlike people, but 
considered by the Nootkians as their inferiors in 
courage. This tribe is more numerous than that 
of Nootka, amounting to between six and seven 
hundred warriors. Though not so civilized as the 
Kla-iz-zarts and less skilful in their manufactures, 
like them they employ themselves in hunting as 
well as in whaling and fishing. Their faces are 
broad but less so than the Kla-iz-zarts, with a 
darker complexion, and a much less open and 
pleasing expression of countenance, while their 
heads present a very different form, being pressed 
in at the sides and lengthened towards the top, 
somewhat in the shape of a sugar loaf. These 
people are very frequent visitors at Nootka, a 
close friendship subsisting between the two nations, 
Maqunia's Arcomah, or Queen, Y-ya-tintla-no, 
being the daughter of the Wickinn'nish king. The 
Kla-oo-quates adjoining them on the North are 
much less numerous, their force not exceeding 
four hundred fighting men; they are also behind 
them in the arts of life. These are a fierce, bold, 
and enterprizing people, and there were none that 
visited Nootka, whom Maquina used to be more 
on his guard against, or viewed with so much sus- 
picion. The Eshquates are about the same num 



jewitt's narrative. 77 

ber; these are considered as tributary to Maquina: 
Their coast abounds with rivers, creeks, and 
marshes. To the North the nearest tribe of any 
importance is the Aitizzarts; these however do not 
exceed three hundred warriors. In appearance 
they greatly resemble the people of Nootka, to 
whom they are considered as tributary, their man- 
ners, dress, and style of living also being very 
similar. They reside at about forty miles distance 
up the sound. A considerable way further to the 
northward are the Cayuquets; these are a much 
more numerous tribe than that of Nootka, but 
thought by the latter to be deficient in courage and 
martial spirit, Maquina having frequently told me 
that their hearts were little like those of birds. 

There are also both at the North and South 
many other intervening tribes, but in general small 
in number and insignificant, all of whom as well as 
the above mentioned speak the same language. 
But the Newchemass who come from a great way 
to the Northward, and from some distance inland, 
as I was told by Maquina, speak quite a different 
language, although it is well understood by those 
of Nootka. These were the most savage looking 
and. ugly men that I ever saw, their complexion 
being much darker, their stature shorter, and their 
hair coarser, than that of the other nations, and 
their dress and appearance dirty in an extreme. 
They wear their beards long like Jews, and have 
a very morose and surly countenance. Their usual 
dress is a Kootsuck made of wolf skin, with a 
number of the tails attached to it, of which I have 
seen no less than ten on one garment, hanging from 
the top to the bottom; though they sometimes 
wear a similar mantle of bark cloth, of a much 

coarser texture than that of Nootka, the original 

7* 



78 jewitt's narrative. 

colour of which appears to be the same, though 
from their very great filthiness, it was almost im- 
possible to discover what it had been. Their 
mode of dressing their hair also varies essentially 
from that of the other tribes, for they suffer that 
on the back of the head to hang loose, and bind 
the other over their foreheads in the manner of a 
fillet, with a strip of their country cloth, ornament- 
ed with small white shells. Their weapons arc 
the Cheetoolth, or war club, which is made from 
whale bone, daggers, bows and arrows, and a kind 
of spear pointed with bone or copper. They 
brought with them no furs for sale, excepting a few 
wolf skins, their merchandize consisting principal- 
ly of the black shining mineral called pelpelth, and 
the fine red paint which they carefully kept in 
close mat bags, some small dried salmon, clams, 
and roes of fish, with occasionally a little coarse 
matting cloth. They were accustomed to remain 
a much longer time at Nootka than the other 
tribes, in order to recover from the fatigue of a 
long journey, part of which was over land, and on 
these occasions taught their songs to our savages. 
The trade of most of the other tribes with Nootka 
was principally train oil, seal or whale's blubber, 
fish fresh or dried, herring or salmon spawn, clams, 
and muscles, and the yama, a species of fruit 
which is pressed and dried, cloth, sea otter skins, 
and slaves. From the Aitizzarts, and the Cayu- 
quets, particularly the former, the best I-whaw 
and in the greatest quantities was obtained/ The 
Eshquates furnished us with wild ducks and geese, 
particularly the latter. The Wickinninish and 
Kla-iz-zarts brought to market many slaves, the 
best sea otter skins, great quantities of oil, whale 
sinew, and cakes of the yama, highly ornamented 



JEWITT'S NARRATIVE. 79 

canoes, some I-whaw, red ochre and pelpelth of 
an inferior quality to that obtained from the New- 
chemass, but particularly the so much valued McU 
amelth, and an excellent root called by the Kla-iz- 
zarts Qnawnoose. This is the size of a small on- 
ion, but rather longer, being of a tapering form 
like a pear, and of a brownish colour. It is cook- 
ed by steam, is always brought in baskets ready 
prepared for eating, and is in truth a very fine veg- 
etable, being sweet, mealy and of a most agreea- 
ble flavour. It was highly esteemed by the na- 
tives who used to eat it as they did everything else 
with train oil. — From the Kla-iz-zarts was also re- 
ceived, though in no great quantity, a cloth manu- 
factured by them from the fur already spoken of, 
which feels like wool and is of a grey colour. 

Many of the articles thus brought, particularly 
the provisions, were considered as presents, or 
tributary offerings, but this must be viewed as lit- 
tle more than a nominal acknowledgment of supe- 
riority, as they rarely failed to get the full amount 
of the value of their presents. I have known 
eighteen of the great tubs, in which they keep 
their provisions, filled with spawn brought in this 
way. On these occasions a great feast is always 
made, to which not only the strangers, but the 
whole village, men, women, and children are gen- 
erally invited, and I have seen five of the largest 
tubs employed at such time in cooking at the 
king's house. At these feasts they generally in- 
dulge in eating to an excess, making up in this 
respect for their want of inebriating liquors, which 
they know no method of preparing in any form, 
their only drink being water. 

Whenever they came to visit or trade it was 
their general custom, to stop a few miles distant 



80 

under the lee of some bluff or rock, and rig them- 
selves out in their best manner, by painting and 
dressing their heads. On their first coming on 
shore, they were invited to eat^by the king, when 
they brought to him, such articles as he wanted, 
after which the rest of the inhabitants v.ere per- 
mitted to purchase, the strangers being careful to 
keep them in their canoes until sold, under strict 
guard to prevent their being stolen, the disposition 
of these people for thieving being so great, that it 
is necessary to keep a watchful eye upon them. 

This was their usual mode of traffick, but when- 
ever they wished to purchase any particular object, 
as for instance, a certain slave, or some other 
thing of which they were very desirous, the canoe 
that came for this purpose would lie off at a little 
distance from the shore, and a kind of embassador 
or representative of the king or chief by whom it 
was sent, dressed in their best manner, and with 
his head covered with the white down, would rise, 
and after making known the object of his mission 
in a pompous speech, hold up specimens of such 
articles as he was instructed to offer in payment, 
mentioning the number or quantity of each, when 
if the bargain was concluded, the exchange was 
immediately made. • 

On their visits of friendship or traffick, the 
chiefs alone used to sleep on shore, this was gen- 
erally at the house of the king or head chief, the 
others passing the night on board of their canoes, 
which was done not only for the preservation of 
their property, but because they were not permit- 
ted to remain on shore, lest they might excite 
some disturbance or commit depredations." 

All these people generally go armed, the com- 
mon class wearing only a dagger, suspended from 



81 

their neck behind, with a string of metamelth, and 
sometimes thrust in their girdles. The chiefs in 
addition to the dagger cany the Cheetoolth, or 
war-club suspended in the same manner beneath 
their mantles; this in the hands of a strong man is 
a powerful weapon, in the management of which, 
some of the older chiefs are very dexterous. It 
is made from the bone of a whale, and is very 
heavy. The blade is about eighteen inches long 
and three broad, till it approaches near the point, 
where it expands to the breadth of four inches. 
In the middle, from whence it slopes off gradually 
to an edge on each side, it is from one to two 
inches in thickness. This blade is usually cover- 
ed with figures of the sun and moon, a man's head, 
&c. and the hilt which is made to represent the 
head of a man or some animal, is curiously set 
with small white shells, and has a band of meta- 
melth fastened to it in order to sling it over the 
shoulder. Some of the tribes have also a kind of 
spear headed with copper or the bone of the'sting 
ray, which is a dangerous weapon; this is however 
not usual, and only carried by the chiefs. The 
bow and arrow are still used by a few, but since 
the introduction of fire arms among them, this 
weapon has been mostly laid aside. 

But to return to our unhappy situation. Though 
my comrade and myself fared as well, and even 
better than we could have expected among these 
people, considering their customs and mode of 
living, yet our fears lest no ship would come to 
our release, and that we should never more behold 
a Christian country, were to us a source of con- 
stant pain. Our principal consolation in this 
gloomy state, was to go on Sundays, whenever 
the weather would permit, to the borders of a 



82 jewitt's narrative. 

fresh water pond, about a mile from the village, 
where, after bathing, and putting on clean clothes, 
we would seat ourselves under the shade of a 
beautiful pine, while I read some chapters in the 
Bible, and the prayers appointed by our Church 
for the day, ending our devotions with a fervent 
prayer to the Almighty that he would deign still to 
watch over and preserve our lives, rescue us from 
the hands of the savages, and permit us once more 
to behold a Christian land. In this manner were 
the greater part of our Sundays passed at Nootka; 
and I felt grateful to heaven, that amidst our oilier 
sufferings, we were at least allowed the pleasure 
of offering up our devotions unmolested, for Ma- 
quina, on my explaining to him as well as was in 
my power the reason of our thus retiring at this 
time, far from objecting, readily consented to it. 
The pond above mentioned was small, not more 
than a quarter of a mile in breadth and of no great 
length, the water being very clear, though not of 
great depth, and bordered by a beautiful forest of 
pine, fir, elm, and batch, free from bushes and 
underwood — a most delightful retreat, which was 
rendered still more attractive by a great number 
of birds that frequented it, particularly the hum- 
ming bird. Thither we used to go to wash our 
clothes, and felt secure from any intrusion from 
the natives, as they rarely visited it except for the 
purpose of cleansing themselves of their paint. 

In July we at length thought that the hope of de- 
livery we had so long anxiously indulged, was on the 
point of being gratified. A ship appeared in the 
offing, but alas, our fond hopes vanished almost as 
soon as formed; for instead of standing in for the 
shore she passed to the northward and soon disap- 
peared. I shall not attempt to describe our disap- 



jewitt's narrative. 63 

pointment — my heart sunk within me, and I felt as 
though it was my destiny never more to behold a 
Christian face. Four days after there occurred a 
tremendous storm of thunder and lightning, during 
which the natives manifest great alarm and terror, 
the whole tribe, hurrying to Maquina's house, 
where, instead of keeping within, they seated 
themselves on the roof amid the severest of the 
tempest, drumming upon the boards, and looking 
up to heaven, while the king beat the long hollow 
plank, singing, and as he afterwards told me, beg- 
ging Quahootze, the name they gave to God, not 
to kill them, in which he was accompanied by the 
whole tribe; this singing and drumming was con- 
tinued until the storm abated. 

As the summer drew near its close, we began 
to suffer from the frequent want of food, which 
was principally owing to Maquina and the chiefs 
being out whaling, in which he would not permit 
Thompson and myself to join, lest we should 
make our escape to some o r the neighbouring 
tribes. At these times the women seldom or ever 
cook any provision, and we were often hungry, 
but were sometimes fortunate enough to procure 
secretly, a piece of salmon, some other fish, spawn, 
or even blubber, which, by boiling in salt water, 
with a few onions and turnips, the remains of the 
Spanish garden, or young nettles and other herbs, 
furnished us a delicious repast in private. In the 
mean time, we frequently received accounts from 
the tribes who came to Nootka, both from the 
north and south, of there being vessels on the 
coast, and were advised by their chiefs to make 
our escape, who also promised us their aid, and to 
put us on board. These stories, however, as I 
afterwards learned, were almost all of them with- 



84 jewitt's narrative. 

out any foundation, and merely invented by these 
people with a view to get us into their power in 
order to make slaves of us themselves, or to sell 
us to others. But I was still more strongly solic- 
ited to leave Nootka by a woman. This was a 
Wickinninish princess, a younger sister of Maqui- 
na ! s wife, who was there on a visit. I had the good 
fortune, if it may be so called, to become quite a 
favourite with her. She appeared much interested 
for me — asked me many questions respecting my 
country, if I had a mother and sister at home, and 
if they would not grieve for my absence. Her 
complexion was fairer than that of the women in gen- 
eral, and her features more regular, and she would 
have been quite handsome had it not been for a de- 
fect in one of her eyes, the sight of which had 
been injured by some accident, the reason, as 
Maquina told me, why she had not been married, a 
defect of this kind being by these savages consid- 
ered as almost an insuperable objection. She 
urged me repeatedly to return with her, telling me 
that the Wickinninish were much better than the 
Nootkians; that her father would treat me more 
kindly than Maquina, give me better food and 
clothes, and finally put me on board one of my own 
country vessels. I felt, however, little disposed 
to accompany her, considering my situation with 
Maquina full as eligible as it would be with the 
Wickinninish, if not better, notwithstanding all she 
said to the contrary. 

On the third of September, the whole tribe 
quitted Nootka, according to their constant prac- 
tice, in order to pass the autumn and winter at 
Tashees and Cooptee, the latter lying, about thirty 
miles up the Sound in a deep bay, the navigation 
of which is very dangerous from the great number 



jewitt's narrative. 85 

of reels and rocks with which it abounds. On 
these occasions every thing is taken with them, 
even the planks of their houses, in order to cover 
their new dwellings. - To an European, such a 
removal exhibits a scene quite novel and strange: 
canoes piled up with boards and boxes, and filled 
with men, women and children of all ranks raid 
sizes, making the air resound with their cries and 
songs. At these times, as well as when they have 
occasion to go some distance from their houses, 
the infants are usually suspended across the moth- 
er's shoulders, in a kind of cradle or hammock, 
formed of bark, of about six inches in depth, and 
of the length of the child, by means of a leather 
band inserted through loops on its edges; this they 
also keep them in when at home, in order to pre- 
serve them in a straight position, and prevent any 
distortion of the limbs, most probably a principal 
cause of these people being so seldom deformed or 
crooked. 

The long boat of our ship having been re- 
paired and furnished with a sail by Thompson, 
Maquina gave us the direction of it, we bjing bet- 
ter acquainted with managing it than his people, 
and after loading her as deep as she could swim, 
we proceeded in company with them to the north, 
quitting Nootka with heavy hearts, as we could 
entertain no hopes of release until our return, no 
ships ever coming to that part of the coast. Pass- 
ing Cooptee, which is situated on the southern 
bank, just within the mouth of a small river flow- 
ing from the east in a narrow valley at the foot of 
a mountain, we proceeded about fifteen miles up 
this stream to Tashees, between a range of lofty 
hills on each side, which extend a great distance 
m-land, and are covered with the finest fV*//, 
8 



86 je vvitt's narrative. 

trees of the country. Immediately on our arrival 
we all went to work very diligently in covering the 
houses with the planks we had brought, the frames 
being ready erected, these people never pretend- 
ing to remove the timber. In a very short time 
the work was completed, and we were established 
in our new residence. 

Tashees is pleasantly situated and in a most se- 
cure position from the winter storms, in a small 
vale or hollow on the south shore, at the foot of a 
mountain. The spot on which it stands is level, 
and the soil very fine, the country in its vicinity 
abounding with the most romantic views, charm- 
ingly diversified, and fine streams of water falling 
in beautiful cascades from the mountains. The 
river at this place is about twenty rods in width, 
and in its deepest part, from nine to twelve feet. 
This village is the extreme point of navigation, as 
immediately beyond, the river becomes much more 
shallow, and is broken into rapids and falls. The 
houses here arc placed in a line like those at Noot- 
ka, but closer together, the situation being more 
confined they are also smaller, in consequence of 
which we were much crowded, and incommoded 
for room. 

The principal object in coming to this place, is 
the facility it affords these people of providing 
their winter stock of provisions, which consists 
principally of salmon, and the spawn of that fish; 
to which may be added herring and sprats, and 
herring spawn. The latter, however, is always 
procured by them at Nootka, previous to their 
quitting it. At the seasons of spawning, which 
are early in the spring and the last of August, they 
collect a great quantity of pine branches, which 
they place in different parts of the Cove at the 



87 

depth of about ten feet and secure them by means 
of heavy stones. On these the herring deposit 
their spawn in immense quantities; the bushes are 
then taken up, the spawn stripped from the branch- 
es, and after being washed and freed from the 
pine leaves by the women, is dried and put up in 
baskets for use. It is considered as their greatest 
delicacy, and eaten both cooked and raw: in the 
former case, being boiled and eaten with train oil, 
and in the latter, mixed up with cold water alone. 

The salmon are taken at Tashees, principally in 
pots or wears. Their method of taking them in 
wears is thus: — A pot of twenty feet in length, 
and from four to five feet diameter at the mouth, is 
formed of a great number of pine splinters which are 
strongly secured, an inch and a half from each oth- 
er, by means of hoops made of flexible twigs, and 
placed about eight inches apart. At the end it 
tapers almost to a point, near which is a small 
wicker door, for the purpose of taking out the fish. 
This pot or wear is placed at the foot of a fall or 
rapid, where the water is not very deep, and the 
fish driven from above with long poles, are inter- 
cepted and caught in the wear, from whence they 
are taken into the canoes. In this manner I have 
seen more than seven hundred salmon caught in 
the space of fifteen minutes. I have also some- 
times known a few of the striped bass taken in this 
manner but rarely. 

At such times there is great feasting and merri- 
ment amoiH them. The women and female slaves 

o 

being busily employed in cooking, or in curing 
the fish for their winter stock, which is done by 
cutting off the heads and tails, splitting them, talc- 
ing out the back bone, and hanging them up in 
their houses to dry. They also dry the halibut 



88 jewitt's narrative. 

and cod, but these instead of curing whole they 
cut up into small pieces for that purpose, and ex- 
pose to the sun. The spawn of the salmon, which 
is a principal article of their provision, they take 
out, and without any other preparation, throw it 
into their tubs, where they leave it to stand and 
ferment, for though they frequently eat it fresh, 
they esteem it much more when it has acquired a 
strong taste, and one of the greatest favours they 
can confer on any person, is to invite him to eat 
Quakamiss, the name they give this food, though 
scarcely any thing can be more repugnant to a Eu- 
ropean palate, than it is in this state; and when- 
ever they took it out of these large receptacles, 
which they are always careful to fill, such was the 
j tench which it exhaled, on being moved, that it 
uas almost impossible for me to abide it, even af- 
ter habit, had in a great degree dulled the delicacy 
of my senses. — When boiled it became less offen- 
sive, though it still retained much of the putrid 
smell and something of the taste. 

Such is the immense quantity of these fish, and 
they are taken with such facility, that I have known 
upwards of twenty-five hundred brought into Ma- 
quina's house at once, and at one of their great 
feasts, have seen one hundred or more cooked in 
one of their largest tubs. 

I used frequently to go out with Maquina upon 
these fishing parties, and was always sure to re- 
ceive a handsome present of salmon, which I had 
the privilege of calling mine; I also went with him 
several times in a canoe, to strike the salmon, 
which I have attempted to do myself, but could 
never succeed, it requiring a degree of adroitness 
that I did not possess. I was also permitted to 
go out with a gun, and was several times very sue- 



jewitt's narrative. SO 

cessful in shooting wild ducks, and teal, which 
are very numerous here, though rather shy. These 
they cooked in their usual manner, by boiling, with- 
out any farther dressing than skinning them. In 
many respects, however, our situation was less 
pleasant here than at Nootka. We were more 
incommoded for room, the houses not being so spa- 
cious, nor so well arranged, and as it was colder, 
we were compelled to be much more within doors. 
We however, did not neglect on Sundays, when 
the weather would admit, to retire into the woods, 
and by the side of some stream, after bathing, re- 
turn our thanks to God for preserving us, and 
offer up to him our customary devotions. I was 
however, very apprehensive, soon after our arrival 
at this place, that I should be deprived of the 
satisfaction of keeping my journal, as Maquina one 
day observing me writing in it, enquired of me 
what I was doing, and when I endeavoured to ex- 
plain it, by telling him that I was keeping an account 
of the weather, he said it was not so, and that I 
was speaking bad about him and telling how he 
had taken our ship and killed the crew, so as to 
inform my countrymen, and that if he ever saw 
me writing in it again, he would throw it into the 
fire. I was much rejoiced that he did no more 
than threaten, and became very cautious afterwards 
not to let him see me write. 

Not long after I finished some daggers for him, 
which I polished highly; these pleased him much, 
and he gave me directions to make a cheetoolth, 
in which I succeeded so far to his satisfaction, 
that he gave me a present of cloth sufficient to 
make me a complete suit of raiment, besides other 
things. Thompson, also, who had become rather 
more of a favourite than formerly, since he had 
8* 



90 jewitt's narrative. 

made a fine sail for his canoe, and some garments 
for him out of European cloth, about this time 
completed another, which was thought by the sav- 
ages a most superb dress. This was a Kootsuk 
or mantle, a fathom square, made entirely of Eu- 
ropean vest patterns of the gayest colours. These 
were sewed together, in a manner to make the 
best show, and bound with a deep trimming of the 
finest otter skin, with which the arm-holes were 
also bordered; while the bottom was farther em- 
bellished with five or six rows of gilt buttons, pla- 
ced as near as possible to each other. Nothing 
could exceed the pride of Maquina when he first 
put on this royal robe, decorated like the coat of 
Joseph, with all the colours of the rainbow, and 
glittering with the buttons, which as he strutted 
about made a tinkling, while he repeatedly ex- 
claimed in a transport of exultation, Klew shish 
Katsuck — wick kum atack Nootka. A fine gar- 
ment — Nootka cant make him. 

Maquina, who knew that the chiefs of the tribes 
who came to visit us, had endeavoured to persuade 
me to escape, frequently cautioned me not to listen 
to them, saying that should I make the attempt, 
and he were to take me, he should certainly put 
me to death. While here he gave me a book in 
which I found the names of seven persons belong- 
ing to the ship Manchester of Philadelphia, Capt. 
Brian, viz. — Daniel Smith, Lewis Gillon, James 
Tom, Clark, Johnson, Ben and Jack. These 
men, as Maquina informed me, ran away from the 
ship, and came to him, but that six of them soon 
after went off in the night, with an intention to go 
to the Wickinninish, but were stopped by the 
Eshquidtes, and sent back to him, and that he or- 
dered them to be put to death; and a most cruel 



jewitt's narrative. 91 

Jeath it was, as I was told by one the natives, 
our men holding one of them on the ground, and 
forcing open his mouth, while they choaked him 
by ramming stones down his throat. As to Jack the 
.boy, who made no attempt to go off, Maquina after- 
wards sold him. to the Wickinninish. I was in- 
formed by the princess Yuqua, that he was quite a 
small boy, who cried a great deal, being put to 
hard labour beyond his strength by the natives, in 
cutting wood and bringing water, and that when 
he heard of the murder of our crew, it had such 
an effect on him that he fell sick and died shortly 
after. On learning the melancholy fate of this un- 
fortunate lad, it again awakened in my bosom those 
feelings that I had experienced at the shocking 
death of my poor comrades. 

The king finding that I was desirous of learning 
their language, was much delighted, and took great 
pleasure in conversing with me. On one of these 
occasions, he explained to me his reasons for cut- 
ting off our ship, saying that he bore no ill will to 
my countrymen, but that he had been several times 
treated very ill by them. The first injury of 
which he had cause to complain, was done him by 
a Captain Tawnington, who commanded a schoon- 
er which passed a winter at Friendly Cove, where 
he was well treated by the inhabitants. This man 
taking advantage of Maquina's absence, who had 
gone to the Wickinninish to procure a wife, armed 
himself and crew, and entered the house where 
there were none but women, whom he threw into 
the greatest consternation, and searching the 
chests, took away all the skins, of which Maqui- 
na had no less than forty of the best; and that 
about the same time, four of their chiefs were bar- 
barously killed by a Captain Martinez, a Spaniard. 



92 



JEWITT S NARRATIVE, 



That soon after Captain Hanna, of the Sea-Otter, 
in consequence of one of the natives having stolen 
a chisel from the carpenter, fired upon their ca- 
noes which were along side, and killed upwards 
of twenty of the natives, of whom several were 
Tyees or chiefs, and that he hiuiself being on 
board the vessel, in order to escape was obliged 
to leap from the quarter deck, and swim for a long 
way under water. 




The Sea Otter firing upon the Natives. 

These injuries had excited in the breast of Ma- 
quina, an ardent desire of revenge, the strongest 
passion of the savage heart, and though many 
years had elapsed since their commission, still 
they were not forgotten, and the want of a favoura- 
ble opportunity alone prevented him from sooner 
avenging them. Unfortunately for us, the long 
wished for opportunity at length presented itself 
in our ship, which Maquina finding not guarded 
with the usual vigilance of the North West Trad- 
ers, and feeling his desire of revenge rekindled by 
the insult offered by Capt. Salter, formed a plan for 



jewitt's narrative. 93 

attacking, and on his return, called a council of 
his chiefs, and communicated it to them, acquaint- 
ing them with the manner in which he had been 
treated. No hss desirous of avenging this affront 
offered their king, than the former injuries, they 
readily agreed to his proposal, which was to goon 
board without arms as usual, but under different 
pretexts, in greater numbers, and wait his signal 
for the moment of attacking their unsuspecting 
victims. The execution of this scheme, as the 
reader knows, was unhappily too successful. — 
And here I cannot but indulge a reflection that has 
frequently occurred to me on the manner in which 
our people behave towards the natives. For 
though they are a thievish race, yet I have no 
doubt that many of the melancholy disasters have 
principally arisen from the imprudent conduct of 
some of the captains and crews of the ships em- 
ployed in this trade, in exasperating them by insult- 
ing, plundering, and even killing them on slight 
grounds. This, as nothing is more sacred with a sav- 
age than the principle of revenge, and no people are 
so impatient under insult, induces them to wreak 
their vengeance upon the first vessel or boat's crew 
that offers, making the innocent too frequently suffer 
for the wrongs of the guilty, as few of them know 
to discriminate between persons of the same general 
appearance, more especially when speaking the 
same langua'ge. And to this cause do I believe, must 
principally be ascribed the sanguinary disposition 
with which these people are reproached, as Ma- 
quina repeatedly told me that it was not his wish to 
hurt a white man, and that he never should have done 
it, though ever so much in his power, had they 
not injured him. And were the commanders of 
our ships to treat the savages with rather more 



94 . jewitt's narrative. 

civility than they sometimes do, I am inclined to 
think they would find their account in it; not that 
I should recommend to them a confidence in the 
good faith and friendly professions of these people, 
so as in any degree to remit their vigilance, but on 
the contrary, to be strictly on their guard, and 
suffer but a very few of them to come on board 
the ship, and admit not many of their canoes along 
side at a time; a precaution that would have been 
the means of preventing some of the unfortunate 
events that have occurred, and if attended to, 
may in future, preserve many a valuable life. 
Such a regulation too, from what I know of their 
disposition and wants, would produce no serious 
difficulty in trading with the savages, and they 
would soon become perfectly reconciled to it. 

Among the provisions which the Indians pro- 
cure at Tashees, I must not omit mentioning a 
fruit that is very important, as forming a great ar- 
ticle of their foo 1. This is what is called by them 
the Yama, a species of berry that grows in bunch- 
es like currants, upon a bush from tw T o to three 
feet high, with a large, round and smooth leaf. 
This berry is black, and about the size of a pistol 
shot, but of rather an oblong shape, and open at 
the top like the blue whortleberry. The taste is 
sweet but a little acrid, and when first gathered, if 
eaten in any great quantity, especially without oil, is 
apt to produce cholics. To procure it, large 
companies of women go out on the mountains, ac- 
companied by armed men, to protect them against 
wild beasts, where they frequently remain for sev- 
eral days, kindling a fire at night, and sheltering 
themselves under sheds constructed of boughs. 
At these parties, they collect great quantities. I 
have known Maquina's queen and her women re- 



JEWlTT's NARRATIVE. 95 

turn loaded, bringing with them upwards of twelve 
bushels. In order to preserve it, it is pressed in 
the bunches between two planks, and dried and 
put away in baskets for use. It is always eaten 
with oil. 

Of berries of various kinds, such as strawber- 
ries, rasp-berries, black-berries, &e. there are 
great quantities in the country, of which the natives 
are very fond, gathering them in their seasons, and 
eating them with oil, but the yama is the only one 
that they preserve. 

Fish is, however, their great article of focd, as 
almost all the others, excepting the yama, may be 
considered as accidental. — They nevertheless are 
far from disrelishing meat, for instance, venison and 
bear's flesh. With regard to the latter, they have 
a ^most singular custom, which is, that any one 
who eats of it is obliged to abstain from eating any 
kind of fresh fish whatever, for the term of two 
months, as they have a superstitious belief, that 
should any of their people after tasting bear's 
flesh, eat of fresh salmon, cod, &c. the fish, though 
at ever so great a distance off, would come to the 
knowledge of it, and be so much offended thereat, 
as not to allow themselves to be taken by any of the 
inhabitants. This I had an opportunity of obser- 
ving while at Tashees, a bear having been killed 
early in December, of which not more than ten 
of the natives would eat, being prevented by the 
prohibition annexed to it, which also was the rea- 
son of my comrade and myself not tasting it, on 
being told by Maquina the consequence. 

As there is something quite curious in their man- 
agement of this animal, when they have killed one, 
I shall give a description of it. After well cleans- 
ing the bear from the dirt and blood, with which 



96 



JEWITT S NARRATIVE, 



it is generally covered when killed, it is brought 
in and seated opposite the king in an upright pos- 
ture, with a chief's bonnet, wrought in figures on 
its head, and its fur powdered over with the white 
down. A tray of provision is then set before it, 
and it is invited by words and gestures to eat. 
This mock ceremony over, the reason of which I 
could never learn, the animal is taken and skin- 
ned, and the flesh and entrails boiled up into a 
soup, no part, but the paunch being rejected. 




This dressing the bear as they cal 
casion of great rejoicing throughout the village, 
all the inhabitants being invited to a great feast "at 
the king's house, though but few of them, in con- 
sequence of the penalty, will venture to eat of the 
flesh, but generally content themselves with their 
favourite dish of herring spawn and water. The 
feast on this occasion was closed by a dance from 
Sat-sat-sak-sis, in the manner I have already de- 
scribed, in the course of which he repeatedly shifted 
his mask for another of a different form. 

A few days after a second bear was taken like 



97 

the former, by means of a trap. This I had the 
curiosity to go and see at the place where it was 
caught, which was m the following manner. On 
the edge of a small stream of water in the moun- 
tains, which the salmon ascend, and near the 
spot where the bear is accustomed to watch for 
them, which is known by its track, a trap or box 
about the heighth of a man's head is built of posts 
and planks with a flat top, on which are laid a 
number of large stones or rocks. The top and 
sides are then carefully covered with turf, so as to 
resemble a little mound, and wholly to exclude the 
light, a narrow entrance of the height of the build- 
ing only being left, just sufficient to admit the 
head and shoulders of the beast. On the inside, 
to a large plank that covers the top, is suspended 
by a strong cord a salmon, the plank being left 
loose so that a forcible pull will bring it down. 
On coming to its usual haunt, the bear enters the 
trap, and in endeavouring to pull away the fish, 
brings down the whole covering with its load of 
stones upon its head, and is almost always crushed 
to death on the spot, or so wounded as to be un- 
able to escape. They are always careful to ex- 
amine these traps every day, in order if a bear be 
caught, to bring it away, and cook it immediately, 
for it is not a little singular, that these people will 
eat no kind of meat that is in the least tainted, or 
not perfectly fresh, while, on the contrary, it is 
hardly possible for fish to be in too putrid a state 
for them, and I have frequently known them when 
a whale has been driven ashore, bring pieces of it 
home with them in a state of offerisiveness insup- 
portable to any thing but a crow, and devour it 
with high relish, considering it as preferable to that 
which is fresh. 

9 



98 jewitt's narrative. 

On the morning of the 13th of December, con> 
menced what appeared to us a most singular farce. 
Apparently without any previous notice, Maquina 
discharged a pistol close to his son's ear, who im- 
mediately fell down as if killed, upon which all the 
women of the house set up a most lamentable cry, 
tearing handfulls of hair from their heads, and ex- 
claiming that the prince was dead, at the same time 
a great number of the inhabitants, rushed into the 
house armed with their daggers, muskets, &c. en* 
quiring the cause of their outcry; these were im- 
mediately followed by two others dressed in wolf 
skins, with masks over their faces representing the 
head of that animal; the latter came in on their 
hands and feet in the manner of a beast, and taking 
up the prince carried him off upon their backs, 
retiring in the same manner they entered. We 
saw nothing more of the ceremony, as Maquina 
came to us, and giving us a quantity of dried pro- 
vision, ordered us to quit the house and not return 
to the village before the expiration of seven days, 
for that if we appeared within that period, he should 
kill us. 

At any other season of the year such an order 
would by us have been considered as an indul- 
gence, in enabling us to pass our time in whatever 
way we wished, and even now, furnished as we 
were, with sufficient provision for that term, it 
was not very unpleasant to us, more particularly 
Thompson, who was always desirous to keep as 
much as possible out of the society and sight of 
the natives, whom he detested. Taking with us 
our provisions, a bundle of clothes, and our axes, 
we obeyed the directions of Maquina, and with- 
drew into the woods, where we built ourselves a 
cabin to shelter us, with the branches of trees, and 



JEWITT'S NARRATIVE. 99 

keeping up a good fire, secured ourselves pretty 
well from the cold. Here we passed the prescrib- 
ed period of our exile, with more content than 
much of the time while with them, employing the 
day in reading and praying for our release, or in 
rambling around and exploring the country, the 
soil of which we found to be very good, and the 
face of it, beautifully diversified with hills and val- 
leys, refreshed with the finest streams of water, 
and at night enjoyed comfortable repose upon a 
bed of soft leaves, with our garments spread over 
us to protect us from the cold. 

At the end of seven days we returned and found 
several of the poeple of A-i-tiz-zart with their 
king or chief at Tashees, who had been invited 
by Maquina to attend the close of this performance, 
which I now learn was a celebration, held by them 
annually, in honour of their God, whom they call 
Quahootze, to return him their thanks for his past, 
and implore his future favours. It terminated on 
the 21st, the day after our return, with a most ex- 
traordinary exhibition. Three men, each of 
whom had two bayonets run through his sides, 
between the ribs, apparently regardless of the pain, 
traversed the room, backwards and forwards, sing- 
ing war songs, and exulting in this display of 
firmness. 

On the arrival of the 25th, we could not but 
call to mind, that this being Christmas, was in our 
country a day of the greatest festivity, when our 
fellow countrymen assembled in their churches, 
were celebrating the goodness of God, and the 
praises of the Saviour. What a reverse did our 
situation offer — captives in a savage land, and slaves 
to a set of ignorant beings unacquainted with religion 
or humanity, hardly were we permitted to offer up 



100 jewitt's narrative. 

our devotions by ourselves in the woods, while we 
felt even grateful for this privilege. Thither with the 
king's permission, we withdrew, and after reading 
the service appointed for the day, sung the hymn of 
the Nativity, fervently praying that heaven in its 
goodness, would permit us to celebrate the next 
festival of this kind in some Christian land. On our 
return, in order to conform as much as was in our 
power to the custom of our country, we were de- 
sirous of having a bettei supper than usual. With 
this view we bought from one of the natives, 
some dried clams and oil, and a root called Klet- 
sup, which we cooked by steaming, and found it 
very palatable. This root consists of many fibres, 
of about six inches long, and of the size of a crow 
quill. It is sweet, of an agreeable taste, not un- 
like the Quanoose, and it is eaten with oil. The 
plant that produces it I have never seen. 

On the 31st, all the tribe quitted Tashees for 
Cooptee, whither they go to pass the remainder 
of the winter, and complete their fishing, taking 
off every thing with them in the same manner as at 
Nootka. We arrived in a few hours at Cooptee, 
which is about fifteen miles, and immediately set 
about covering the houses, which was soon com- 
pleted. 

This place, which is their great herring and 
sprat fishery, stands just within the mouth of the 
river, on the same side with Tashees, in a very 
narrow valley at the foot of a high mountain. 
Though nearly as secure as Tashees from the win- 
ter storms, it is by no means so pleasantly situa- 
ted, though to us it was a much more agreeable 
residence, as it brought us nearer Nootka, where we 
were impatient to return, in hopes of finding some 
vessel there, or hearing of the arrival of on© near. 



jewitt's narrative. 10J 

The first snow that fell this season, was the day 
after our arrival, on New- Years ; a day that like 
Christmas, brought with it, painful reccollections, 
but at the same time led us to indulge the hope of 
a more fortunate year than the last. 

Early on the morning of the 7th of January, 
Maquina took me with him in his canoe on a visit 
to Upqussta, chief of the A-i-tiz-zarts, who had 
invited him to attend an exhibition at his village, 
similar to the one with which he had been enter- 
tained at Tashees. This place is between twen- 
ty and thirty miles distant up the sound, and stands 
en the banks of a small river about the size of that 
of Cooptee, just within its entrance, in a valley of 
much greater extent than that of Tashees ; it con- 
sists of fourteen or fifteen houses, built and dis- 
posed in the manner of those at Nootka. The 
tribe, which is considered as tributary to Maqui- 
na, amounts to about three hundred warriors, and 
the inhabitants, both men and women, are among 
the best looking of any people on the coast. 

On our arrival we were received at the shore by 
the inhabitants, a few of whom were armed with 
muskets, which they fired, with loud shouts and 
exclamations of JVocash, wo cash. 

We were welcomed by the chief's messenger, 
or master of ceremonies, dressed in his best gar- 
ments, with his hair powdered with white down, 
and holding in his hand the cheetoolth, the badge 
of his office. This man preceded us to the chiefs 
house, where he introduced and pointed out to us 
our respective seats. On entering, the visitors 
took off their hats, which they always wear on 
similar occasions, and Maquina his outer robes, of 
which he has several on whenever he pays a visit, 
and seated himself near the chief. As I was dress- 
9* 



102 jewitt's narrative. 

ed in European clothes I became quite an object 
of curiosity to these people, very few of whom 
had ever seen a white man. They crowded around 
me in numbers, taking hold of my clothes, exam- 
ining my face, hands and feet, and even open- 
ing my mouth to see if I had a tongue, for not- 
withstanding I had by this time become well ac- 
quainted with their language, I preserved the 
strictest silence, Maquina oh our first landing hav- 
ing enjoined me not to speak, until he should di- 
rect. Having undergone this examination for some 
time, Maquina at length made a sign to me to speak 
to them. On hearing me address them in their 
own language, they were greatly astonished and 
delighted, and told Maquina that they now per- 
ceived that I was a man like themselves, except 
that I was white and looked like a seal, alluding to 
my blue jacket and trowsers, which they wanted 
to persuade me to take off, as they did not like 
their appearance. Maquina in the meantime gave 
an account to the chief, of the scheme he had 
formed for surprising our ship, and the manner in 
which he and his people had carried it into execu- 
tion, with such particular and horrid details of that 
transaction as chilled the blood in my veins. Trays 
of boiled herring spawn and train oil were soon af- 
ter brought in and placed before us, neither the 
chief or any of his people eating at the same time, 
it being contrary to the ideas of hospitality enter- 
tained by these nations, to eat any part of the food 
that is provided for strangers, always waiting 
until their visitors have finished, before they have 
their own brought in. 

The following day closed their festival with an 
exhibition of a similar kind, to that which had been 
given at Tashees, but still more cruel, the different 



jewitt's narrative, 103 

tribes appearing on these occasions to endeavour to 
surpass each other, in their proofs of fortitude and 
endurance of pain. In the morning twenty men 
entered the chiefs house, with each an arrow run 
through the flesh of his sides, and either arm, with 
a cord fastened to the end, which as the performers 
advanced, singing and boasting, was forcibly drawn. 
Lack by a person having hold of it. After this 
performance was closed we returned to Cooptee, 
which we reached at midnight, our men keeping 
time with their songs to the stroke of their pad- 
dles. 

The natives now began to take the herring and 
sprat in immense quantities, with some salmon, 
and there was nothing but feasting from morning 
till night. The following is the method they em- 
ploy to lake the herring. A stick of about seven 
feet long, two inches broad, and half an inch thick, 
is formed from some hard wood, one side of which 
is set with sharp teeth, made from whale bone, at 
about half an inch apart. Provided with this in- 
strument, the fisherman seats himself in the prow 
of a canoe, which is paddled by another, and when- 
ever he comes to a shoal of herring, which cover 
the water m great quantities, he strikes it with 
both hands upon them, and at the same moment 
turning it up, brings it over the side of the canoe, 
into which he lets those that are taken drop. It is 
astonishing to see how many are caught by those 
who are dexterous at this kind of fishing, as they 
seldom fail when the shoals are numerous, of tak- 
ing as many as ten or twelve at a stroke, and in a 
very short time will fill a canoe with them. Sprats 
are likewise caught in a similar manner. 

About the beginning of February, Maquina gave a 
great feast, at which w T ere present not only all the 



104 

inhabitants, but one hundred persons from A-i- 
tiz-zart, and a number from Wickinn-inish, who 
had been invited to attend it. It is customary with 
them to give an annual entertainment of this kind, 
and it is astonishing to see what a quantity of pro- 
vision is expended, or rather wasted on such an 
occasion, when they always eat to the greatest ex- 
cess. It was at this feast that I saw upwards oi 
a hundred salmon cooked in one tub. The whole 
residence at Cooptee presents an almost uninter- 
rupted succession of feasting and gormondizing, 
and it would seem as if the principal object of these 
people was to consume their whole stock of pro- 
vision before leaving it, trusting entirely to their 
success in fishing and whaling, for a supply a! 
Nootka. 

On the 25th of Februaiy, we quitted Cooptee, 
and returned to Nootka. With much joy did 
Thompson and myself again find ourselves in a place, 
where notwithstanding the melancholy recollections 
which it excited, we hoped before long to see some 
vessel arrive to our relief; and for this we became 
the more solicitous, as of late we had become much 
more apprehensive of our safety in consequence of 
information brought Maquina a few days before 
we left Cooptee, by some of the Cayuquets, that 
there were twenty ships at the northward prepar- 
ing to come against him, with an intention of des- 
troying him and his whole tribe, for cutting off the 
Boston. This story which was wholly without 
foundation, and discovered afterwards to have been 
invented by these people, for the purpose of disqui- 
eting him, threw him into great alarm, and notwith- 
standing all I could say to convince him that it 
was an unfounded report, so great was his jealousy 
of usj especially after it had been confirmed to 



jewitt's narrative. 105 

him by some others ol the same nation, that he 
treated us with much harshness, and kept a very 
suspicious eye upon us. Nothing indeed could 
be more unpleasant than our present situation, 
when I reflected that our lives were altogether de- 
pendent on the will of a savage, on whose caprice 
and suspicions no rational calculation could be 
made. 

Not long after our return, a son of Maquina's 
sister, a boy about eleven years old, who had been 
for some time declining, died. Immediately on 
his death, which was about midnight, all the men 
and women in the house, set up loud cries and 
shrieks, which awakening Thompson and myself, 
so disturbed us that we left the house. This 
lamentation was kept up during the remainder of 
the night. In the morning, a great fire was kin- 
dled, in which Maquina burned in honour of the de- 
ceased, ten fathoms of cloth, and buried with him 
ten fathoms more, eight of I-whaw, four prime 
sea otter skins, and two small trunks, containing our 
unfortunate captain's clothes and watch. This 
boy was considered as a Tyee or chief, being the 
only son of Tootoosch, one of their principal 
chiefs, who had married Maquina's sister, whence 
arose this ceremony on his interment; it being an 
established custom with these people, that when- 
ever a chief dies, his most valuable property is 
burned or buried with him; it is, however, wholly 
confined to the chiefs, and appears to be a mark 
of honour appropriate to them. In this instance 
Maquina furnished the articles, m order that his 
nephew might have the proper honours rendered 
him. Tootoosch his father was esteemed the first 
warrior of the tribe, and was one who had been 
particularly active in the destruction of our ship, 



06 

naving killed two of our poor comrades , who were 
ashore, whose names were Hall and Wood, 
About the time of our removal to Tashees, while 
in the enjoyment of the highest health, he was 
suddenly seized with a fit, of delirium, in which 
he fancied that he saw the ghosts of those two men 
constantly standing by him, and threatening him, 
so that he would take no food, except what was 
forced into his mouth. A short time before this, 
he had lost a (laughter of about fifteen years of 
age, which afflicted him greatly, and whether his 
insanity, a disorder very uncommon amongst these 
savages, no instance of the kind having occurred 
within the memory of the oldest man amongst 
them, proceeded from this cause, or that it was 
the special interposition of an all merciful God in 
our favour, who by this means thought proper to 
induce these barbarians still farther to respect our 
lives, or that for hidden purposes, the Supreme 
Disposer of events, sometimes permits the spirits 
of the dead to revisit the world, and haunt the 
murderer I know not, but his mind from this period 
until his death, which took place but a few weeks 
after that of his son was incessantly occupied with 
the images of the men whom he had killed. This 
circumstance made much impression upon the tribe, 
particularly the chiefs, w T hose uniform opposition 
to putting us to death, at the various councils that 
were held on our account, I could not but in part 
attribute to this cause, and Maquinaused frequent- 
y in speaking of Tootoosch's sickness, to express 
much satisfaction that his hands had not been 
stained with the blood of any of our men. When 
Maquina was first informed by his sister, of the 
strange conduct of her husband, he immediately 
went to his house, taking us with him; 9usv,cw.. a 



sewitt's narrative. 107 

that his disease had been caused by us., and that the 
ghosts of our countrymen had been called thither by 
us, to torment him. We found him raving about 
Hall and Wood, saying that they were peshak, 
that is bad. Maquina then placed some provision 
before him to see if he would eat. On perceiv- 
ing it, he put forth his hand to take some, but in- 
stantly withdrew it with signs of horror, saying 
that Hall and Wood were there, and would not 
let him eat. Maquina then pointing to us, asked 
if it was not John and Thompson who troubled 
him. Wik, he replied, that is, no, John klush- 
ish— Thompson kltishish— John and Thompson 
are both good; then turning to me, and patting me 
on the shoulder, he made signs to me to eat. I 
tried to persuade him that Hall and Wood were 
not there, and that none were near him but our- 
selves: he said, I know very well you do not see 
diem, but I do. At first Maquina endeavoured to 
convince him that he saw nothing, and to laugh 
him out of his belief, but finding that all was to no 
purpose, he at length became serious, and asked 
me if I had ever seen any one affected in this 
manner, and what was the matter with him. I 
gave him to understand, pointing to his head, that 
his brain was injured, and that he did not see 
things as formerly. Being convinced by Too- 
toosch's conduct, that we had no agency in his 
indisposition, on our return home, Maquina asked 
me what was done in my country in similar cases. 
I told him that such persons were closely confin- 
ed, and sometimes tied up and whipped, in order 
to make them better. After pondering for some 
time, he said that he should be glad to do any 
thing to relieve him, and that he should be whip- 
ped, and immediately gave orders to some of his 



108 

men, to go to Tootoosch's house, bind him, and 
bring him to his, in order to undergo the op- 
eration. Thompson was the person selected to 
administer this remedy, which he undertook very 
readily, and for that purpose provided himself with 
a good number of spruce branches, with which he 
whipped him most severely, laying it on with the 
best will imaginable, while Tootoosch displayed 
the greatest rage, kicking, spitting, and attempting 
to bite all who came near him. This was too 
much for Maquina, who, at length, unable to en- 
dure it longer, ordered Thompson to desist, and 
Tootoosch to be carried back, saying that if there 
was no othjr way of curing him but by whipping, 
he must remain ma.d. 

The application of the whip produced no bene- 
ficial effect on Tootoosch, for he afterwards be- 
came still more deranged; in his fits of fury some- 
times seizing a club, and beating his slaves in a 
most dreadful manner, and striking and spitting at 
all who came near him, till at length his wife no 
longer daring to remain in the house with him, 
came with her son to Maquina's. 

The whaling season now commenced, and Ma- 
quina was out almost every day in his canoe in 
pursuit of them, but for a considerable time, with 
no success, one day breaking the staff of his har- 
poon, another, after having been a long time fast 
to a whale, the weapon drawing, Owing to the 
breaking of the shell which formed its point, with 
several such like accidents, arising from the im- 
perfection of the instrument. At these times he 
always returned very morose and out of temper, 
upbraiding his men with having violated their ob- 
ligation to continence preparatory to whaling. In 
this state of ill humour he would give us very lit- 



JEWITT ; S NARRATIVE. 109 

tie to eat, which added to the women not cook- 
ing when the men are away, reduced us to very 
low fare. 

In consequence of the repeated occurrence of 
similar accidents, I proposed to Maquina to make 
him a harpoon or foreganger of steel, which would 
be less liable to fail him. The idea pleased him, 
and in a short time I completed one for him, with 
which he was much delighted, and the very next 
day went out to make trial of it. He succeeded 
with it in taking a whale. Great was the joy 
throughout the village as soon as it was known 
that the king had secured the whale, by notice 
from a person stationed at the head-land in the off- 
ing. All the canoes were immediately launched, 
and, furnished with harpoons and seal skin floats, 
hastened to assist in buoying it up and in towing it 
in. The bringing in of this fish exhibited a scene 
of universal festivity. As soon as the canoes ap- 
peared at the mouth of the cove, those on board 
of them singing a song of triumph to a slow air, to 
which they kept time with their paddles, all who 
were on shore, men, women, and children, mount- 
ed the roofs of their houses, to congratulate the 
king on his success, drumming most furiously on 
the planks, and exclaiming Wocash — wocash Tyee. 

The whale on being drawn on shore, was im- 
mediately cut up, and a great feast of the blubber 
given at Maqui la's house, to which all the village 
were invited, who indemnified themselves for their 
lent, by eating as usual to excess. I was high- 
ly praised for the goodness of my harpoon, and a 
quantity of blubber given me, which I was permit- 
ed to cook as I pleased, this I boiled in salt water 
with some young nettles and other greens for 
10 



110 jewitt's narrative. 

Thompson and myself, and in this way we found 
it tolerable food. 

Their method of procuring the oil, is to skim 
it from the water in which the blubber is boiled, 
and when cool, put it up into whale bladders for 
use, and of these I have seen them so large as, 
when filled, would require no less than five or six 
men to carry. Several of the chiefs, among whom 
were Maquina's brothers, who after the king has 
caught the first whale, are privileged to take them 
also, were very desirous, on discovering the su- 
periority of my harpoon, that I should make some 
for them, but this Maquina would not permit, re- 
serving for himself this improved weapon. He 
however gave me directions to make a number 
more for himself, which I executed, and also made 
him several lances, with which he was greatly 
pleased. 

As these people have some very singular obser- 
vances preparatory to whaling, an account of them 
will, I presume, not prove uninteresting, especially 
as it may serve to give a better idea of their man- 
ners. A short time before leaving Tashees, the 
king makes a point of passing a day alone on the 
mountain, whither he goes very privately early in 
the morning, and does not return till late in the 
evening. This is done, as I afterwards learned, 
for the purpose of singing and praying to his God 
for success in whaling the ensuii.g season. At 
Cooptee the same ceremony is performed, and at 
Nootka after the return thither, with still greater 
solemnity, as for the next two days he appears 
very thoughtful and gloomy, scarcely speaking to 
any one, and observes a most rigid fast. On these 
occasions, he has always a broad red fillet made 



jewitt's narrative. Ill 

of bark, bound around his head, in token of humili- 
ation, with a large branch of green spruce on the 
top, and his great rattle in his hand. In addition 
to this, for a week before commencing their whal- 
ing, both himself and the crew of his canoe ob- 
serve a fast, eating but very little, and going into 
the water several times in the course of each day 
to bathe, singing and rubbing their bodies, limbs 
and faces with shells and bushes, so that on their 
return T have seen them look as though they had^ 
been severely torn with briers. They are like- 
wise obliged to abstain from any commerce with 
their women for the like period, the latter restric- 
tion being considered as indispensable to their suc- 
cess. 

Early in June Tootoosch, the crazy chief, died. 
On being acquainted with his death the whole vil- 
lage, men, women, and children set up a loud 
cry, with every testimony of the greatest grief, 
which they continued for more than three hours. 
As soon as he was dead, the body, according to 
their custom, was laid out on a plank, having the 
head bound round with a red bark fillet, which is 
with them an emblem of mourning and sorrow. 
After laying some time in this manner, he was 
wrapped in an otter skin robe, and three fathoms 
of I-whaw being put about his neck, he was placed 
in a large coffin or box about three feet deep, 
which was ornamented on the outside with two 
rows of the small white shells. In this, the most 
valuable articles of his property were placed with 
him, among which were no less than twenty-four 
prime sea-otter skins. At night, which is their 
time for interring the dead, the coffin was borne 
by eight men with two poles, thrust through ropes 
passed around it, to the place of burial, accom- 



112 jewitt's narrative. 

parried by his wife and family, with their hair cut 
short, in token of grief, all the inhabitants joining 
the procession. The place of burial was a large 
cavern on the side of a hill at a little distance from 
the village, in which, after depositing the coffin 
carefully, all the attendants repaired to Maquina's 
house, where a number of articles belonging to the 
deceased, consisting of blankets, pieces of cloth, 
&c. were burned by a person appointed by Ma- 
quina for that purpose, dressed and painted in the 
highest style, with his head covered with white 
down, who, as he put in the several pieces, one by 
one, poured upon them a quantity of oil to increase 
the flame, in the intervals between, making a 
speech and playing off a variety of buffoon tricks, 
and the whole closed with a feast and dance from 
Sat-sat-sak-sis, the king's son. 

The man who performed the ceremony of burn- 
ing on this occasion, was a very singular charac- 
ter, named Kinneclimmets . He was held in high 
estimation by the king, though only of the com- 
mon class, probably from his talent for mimicry 
and buffoonry, and might be considered as a kind 
of king's jester, or rather as combining in his per- 
son the character of a buffoon with that of master 
of ceremonies, and public orator to his majesty, 
as he was the one who at feasts always regulated 
the place of the guests, delivered speeches on re- 
ceiving or returning visits, besides amusing the 
company at all their entertainments, with a variety 
of monkey pranks and antic gestures, which ap- 
peared to these savages the height of wit and hu- 
mour, but would be considered as extremely low 
by the least polished people. Almost all the kings 
or head chiefs of the principal tribes, were accom- 
panied by a similar characters who appeared to bs 



jewitt's narrative. 113 

attached to their dignity, and are called in their 
language, Climmer-habbee. 

This man, Kinneclimmets, was particularly 
odious to Thompson, who would never join in the 
laugh at his tricks, but when he began, would al- 
most always quit the house with a very surly look, 
and an exclamation of, cursed fool ! which Maqui- 
na, who thought nothing could equal the cleverness 
of his Climmer-habbee, used to remark with much 
dissatisfaction, asking me why Thompson never 
laughed, observing that I must have had a very 
good tempered woman indeed for my mother, as 
my father was so very ill-natured a man. Among' 
those performances that gained him the greatest 
applause, was his talent of eating to excess, for I 
have known him devour at one meal, no less than 
seventy-five large herring, and at another time 
when a great feast was given by Maquina, he un- 
dertook, after drinking three pints of oil by way 
of whet, to eat four dried salmon, and five quarts 
of spawn, mixed up with a gallon of train oil, and 
actually succeeded in swallowing the greater part 
of this mess, until his stomach became so over- 
loaded, as to discharge its contents in trie dish^ 
One of his exhibitions, however, had nearly cost 
him his life, this was on occasion of Kla-quak- 
ee-na, one of the chiefs, having bought him a new 
wife, in celebration of which he ran three times 
through a large fire, and burned himself in such a 
manner, that he was not able to stir for more than 
four weeks. These feats of savage skill were 
much praised by Maquina, who never failed to 
make him a present, of cloth, muskets, &c. on 
such occasions. 

The death of Tootoosch increased still more 
the disquietude which his delirium had excited 



114 jewitt's narrative. 

among the savages, and all those chiefs who had 
killed our men became much alarmed, lest they 
should be seized with the same disorder and die 
like him; more particularly, as I had told Maquina, 
that I believed his insanity was a punishment in- 
flicted on him by Quahootze, for his cruelty in 
murdering two innocent men, who had never in- 
jured him. 

Our situation had now become unpleasant \:\ the 
extreme. The summer was so far advanced, that 
we nearly despaired of a ship arriving to our relief, 
and with that expectation, almost relinquished the 
hope of ever having it in our power to quit this 
savage land. We were treated too with less in- 
dulgence than before, both Thompson and myself 
being obliged, in addition to our other employ- 
ments, to perform the laborious task of cutting and 
collecting fuel, which w T e had to bring on our 
shoulders from nearly three miles distant, as it 
consisted wholly of dry trees, all of which near 
the village, had been consumed. To add to this, 
we suffered much abuse from the common people, 
who, when Maquina or some of the chiefs were 
not present, would insult us, calling us wretched 
slaves, asking us where was our Tyee or captain, 
making gestures signifying that his head had been 
cut off, and that they would do the like to us; 
though they generally took good care at such times 
to keep well out of Thompson's reach, as they 
had more than once experienced to their cost the 
strength of his fist. This conduct was not only 
provoking and grating to our feelings in the highest 
degree, but it convinced us of the ill disposition 
of these savages towards us, and rendered us fear- 
ful lest they might at some time or other persuade 
or force Maquina and the chiefs, to put us to death. 



jewitt's narrative. 115 

We were also often brought to great distress 
for the want of provision, so far as to be reduced 
to collect a scanty supply of muscles and limpets 
from the rocks, and sometimes even compelled to 
part with some of our most necessary articles of 
clothing, in order to purchase food for our sub- 
sistence. This was, however, principally owing 
to the inhabitants themselves experiencing a great 
scarcity of provisions this season there having 
been, in the first place, but ve^ few salmon 
caught at Friendly Cove, a most unusual cir- 
cumstance, as they generally abound there in the 
spring, which was by the natives attributed to their 
having been driven away by the blood of our men, 
who had been thrown into the sea, which with 
true savage inconsistency, excited their manners 
against Maquina, who had proposed cutting o;T 
our ship. Relying on this supply, they had in 
the most inconsiderate manner squandered away 
their winter stock of provisions, so that in a 
few days after their return, it was entirely expend- 
ed. Nor were the king and chiefs much more 
fortunate in their whaling, even after I had furnish- 
ed Maquina with the improved weapon for that 
purpose; but four whales having been taken during 
the season, which closes the last of May, including 
one that had been struck by Maquina and escaped, 
and was afterwards driven on shore about six miles 
from Nootka, in almost a state of putridity. 
These afforded but a short supply, to a popula- 
tion, including all ages and sexes, of no less than 
fifteen hundred persons, and of a character so very 
improvident, that after feasting most gluttonously 
whenever a whale was caught, they were several 
times for a week together, reduced to the necessi- 
ty of eating but once a day, and of collecting 



116 

cockles and muscles from the rocks for their food. 
And even after the cod and halibut fishing com- 
menced in June, in which they met with tolerable 
success, such was the savage caprice of Maquina 
that he would often give us but little to eat, finally 
ordering us to buy a canoe and fishing implements, 
and go out ourselves and fish, or we should have 
nothing. To do this, we were compelled to part 
with our great coats, which were not only impor- 
tant to us as garments, but of which we made our 
beds, spreading them under us when we slept 
From our want of skill, however, in this new em- 
ploy, we met with no success, on discovering 
which, Maquina ordered us to remain at home. 

Another thing, which to me in particular, proved 
an almost constant source of vexation and disgust, 
and which living among them had not in the least 
reconciled me to, was their extreme filthiness, not 
only in eating fish, especially the whale, when in a 
state of offensive putridity, but while at their 
meals of making a practice of taking the vermin 
from their heads or clothes, and eating them, by 
turns thrusting their fingers into their hair, 
and into the dish, and spreading their garments 
over the tubs in which the provision was cook- 
ing, in order to set in motion their inhabitants. 
Fortunately for Thompson, he regarded this much 
less than myself, and when I used to point out to 
him any instances of their filthiness in this respect, 
he would laugh and reply, Never mind John, the 
more good things the better. I must however do 
Maquina the justice to state, that he was much 
neater both in his person and eating than were the 
others, as was likewise his queen, owing no doubt 
to his intercouse with foreigners, which had given 
him ideas of cleanliness, for I never saw either of 



jewitt's narrative. 117 

them eat any of these animals, but on the contrary 
they appeared not much to relish this taste in 
others. Their garments, also, were much clean- 
er, Maquina having been accustomed to give his 
away when they became soiled, till after he dis- 
covered that Thompson and myself kept ours clean 
by washing them, when he used to make Thomp- 
son do the same for him. 

Yet amidst this state of endurance and disap- 
pointment, in hearing repeatedly of the arrival of 
ships at the north and south, most of which proved 
to be idle reports, while expectation was almost 
wearied out in looking for them, we did not wholly 
despond, relying on the mercy of the Supreme 
Being, to offer up to whom our devotions on the 
days appointed for his worship, was our chief con- 
solation and support, though we were sometimes 
obliged by our task-masters to infringe upon the 
Sabbath, which was to me a source of much re- 
gret. 

We were nevertheless, treated at times, with 
much kindness by Maquina, who would give us a 
plenty of the best that he had to eat, and occa- 
sionally, some small present of cloth for a garment, 
promising me, that if any ship should arrive within 
a hundred miles of Nootka, he would send a canoe 
with a letter from me to the captain, so that he 
might come to our release. These flattering prom- 
ises and marks of attention were however, at those 
times, when he thought himself in personal danger 
from a mutinous spirit, which the scarcity of pro- 
vision had excited among the natives, who, like 
true savages, imputed all their public calamities, 
of whatever kind, to the misconduct of their chief, 
or when he was apprehensive of an attack from 
some of the other tribes who were irritated with him 



118 

for cutting off the Boston, as it had prevented ships 
from coming to trade with them, and who were 
constantly alarming him with idle stories of vessels 
that were preparing to come against him, and ex- 
terminate both him and his people the Cayuquets. 
At such times, he made us keep guard over him 
both night and day, armed with cutlasses and pis- 
tols, being apparently afraid to trust any of his own 
men. At one time, it was a general revolt of his 
people that he apprehended — then three of his 
principal chiefs, among whom was his elder broth- 
er, had conspired to take away his life, and at 
length he fancied that a small party of Klaooquates, 
between whom and the Nootkians, little friendship 
subsisted, had come to Nootka, under a pretence of 
trade, for the sole purpose of murdering him and his 
family, telling us, probably to sharpen our vigi- 
lance, that their intention was to kill us likewise; 
and so strongly were his fears excited on this oc- 
casion, that he not only ordered us to keep near 
him armed by day, whenever he went out, and to 
patrole at night before his house while they remain- 
ed, but to continue the same guard for three days 
after they were gone, and to fire at one and at four 
in the morning, one of the great guns, to let them 
know, if, as he suspected, they were lurking in the 
neighbourhood, that he was on his guard. While 
he was thus favourably disposed towards us, I took 
an opportunity to inform him of the ill treatment 
that we frequently received from his people, and 
the insults that were offered us by some of the 
stranger tribes in calling us white slaves, and load- 
ing us with other opprobrious terms. He w T as 
much displeased, and said that his subjects should 
not be allowed to treat us ill, and that if any of the 
strangers did it, he wished us to punish the offand- 



jewitt's narrative. 



119 



isrg with death, at the same time directing us for 
oui security, to go constantly armed. This per- 
mission was soon improved hy Thompson to the 
best advantage; for a few days after, having gone to 
the pond to wash some of our clothes, and blanket 
for Maquina, several Wickinninish who were then 
at Nootka, came thither, and seeing him washing 
the clothes, and the blanket spread upon the grass 
to dry, they began according to custom to insult 
him, and one of them bolder than the others, 
walked over the blanket. Thompson was highly 
incensed, and threatened the Indian with death if 
he repeated the offence, but he, in contempt of the 
threat, trampled upon the blanket, when drawing 
his cutlass, without farther ceremony, Thompson 
cut off his head, on seeing which the others ran 




Thompson killing the Indian. 

off at full speed ; Thompson then gathering up the 
clothes and blanket on which were the marks of the 
Indian's dirty feet, and taking with him the head, 
returned and informed the king of what had pass- 
ed, who was much pleased, and highly commend- 



120 jewitt*'s narrative. 

ed his conduct. This had a favourable effect for 
us, not only on the stranger tribes, but the inhabi- 
tants themselves, who treated us afterwards with 
less disrespect. 

In the latter part of July, Maquina informed me 
that he was going to war with the A-y-charts, a 
tribe living at about fifty miles to the south, on ac- 
count of some controversy that had arisen the pre- 
ceding summer, and that I must make a number 
of daggers for his men, and cheetoolths for his 
chiefs, which having completed, he wished me to 
make for his own use a weapon of quite a different 
form, in order to dispatch his enemy by one blow 
on the head, it being the calculation of these na- 
tions on going to war, to surprize their adversaries 
while asleep. This was a steel dagger, or more 
properly a spike, of about six inches long made 
very sharp, set at right angles in an iron handle ol 
fifteen inches long, terminating at the lower end in 
a crook or turn, so as to prevent its being wrench- 
ed from the hand, and at the upper, in a round 
knob or head, from whence the spike protruded. 
This instrument I polished highly, and the more to 
please Maquina, formed on the back of the knob, 
the resemblance of a man's head, with the mouth 
open, substituting for eyes, black beads, which I 
fastened in with red sealing wax. This pleased 
him much, and was greatly admired by his chiefs, 
who wanted me to make similar ones for them, but 
Maquina would not suffer it, reserving for himself 
alone this weapon. 

When these people have finally determined on 
war, they make it an invariable practice for three 
or four weeks prior to the expedition, to go into 
the water five or six times a day, where they wash 
and scrub themselves from head to foot with bush 



121 

es intermixed with briars, so that their bodies and 
faces will often be entirely covered with blood. 
During this severe exercise, they are continually 
exclaiming, "fVocash Quahootze, Teechamme 
ah icellh, wik-etish tau-ilth — Kar-sab-matemas — 
Wik-sish to hauk matemas — / ya-ish kah-shittle 
— As'smootish warich matemas — Which signifies, 
Good, or great God, let me live — Not be sick — 
Find the enemy — Not fear him — Find him asleep, 
and kill a great many of him. During the whole of 
this period they have no intercourse with their 
women, and for a week, at least, before setting out, 
abstain from feasting or any kind of merriment, 
appearing thoughtful, gloomy, and morose, and for 
the three last days, are almost constantly in the 
water, both day and night, scrubbing and lacera- 
ting themselves in a terrible manner. Maquina 
Having informed Thompson and myself that he 
should take us with him, was very solicitous that 
we should bathe and scrub ourselves in the same 
way with them, telling me that it would harden 
our skins so that the weapons of the enemy would 
not pierce them, but as we felt no great inclination 
to amuse ourselves in this manner, we declined it. 

The expedition consisted of forty canoes, carry- 
ing from ten to twenty men each. Thompson and 
myself armed ourselves with cutlasses and pistols, 
but the natives, although they had a plenty of 
European arms, took with them only their daggers 
and cheetoolths, with a few bows and arrows, the 
latter being about a yard in length, and pointed 
with copper, muscle shell, or bone: the bows are 
four feet and a half long, with strings made of 
whale sinew. 

To go to A-y-chart, we ascended from twenty 
to thirty miles, a river about the size of that of 
11 



122 jewitt's narrative. 

Tashees, the banks of which arc h'zh and covered 
with wood. At midnight, we came in sight of the 
village, which was situated on the west bank near 
the shore on a steep hill difficult of access, and 
well calculated for defence. It consisted of fifteen 
or sixteen houses, smaller than those at Nootka, 
and built in the same style, but compactly placed. 
By Maquina's directions, the attack was deferred 
until the first appearance of dawn, as he said that 
was the time when men slept the soundest. 

At length all being ready for the attack, we 
landed with the greatest silence, and going around 
so as to come upon the foe in the rear, clambered 
up the hill, and while the natives, as is their cus- 
tom, entered the several huts, creeping on all 
fours, my comrade and myself stationed ourselves 
without, to intercept those who should attempt to 
escape, or come to the aid of their friends. I 
wished if possible, not to stain my hands in the 
blood of any fellow creature, and though Thomp- 
son would gladly have put to death all the savages 
in the country, he was too brave to think of attack- 
ing a sleeping enemy. Having entered the houses, 
on the war-whoop being given by Maquina, as he 
seized the head of the chief, and gave him the fatal 
blow, all proceeded to the work of death. The 
A-y-charts being thus surprised, were unable to 
make resistance, and with the exception of a very 
few, who were so fortunate as to make their escape, 
were all killed or taken prisoners on condition of 
becoming slaves to their captors. I also had the 
good fortune to take four captives, whom Maqui- 
na, as a favor, permitted me to consider as mine, 
and occasionally employ them in fishing for me, 
as for Thompson, who thristed for revenge, lie had 
no wish to take any prisoners, but with his cutlass, 



jewitt's narrative. 123 

the only weapon he would employ against them, 
succeeded in killing seven stout fellows who came 
to attack him, an act which obtained him great 
credit with Maquina and the chiefs, who after this, 
held him in much higher estimation, and gave him 
the appellation of Chehicl-suma-har, it being the 
name of a very celebrated warrior of their nation in 
ancient times, whose exploits were the constant 
theme of their praise. 

4m to 




Thompson slaying the Natives. 

After having put to death all the old and infirm 
of either sex, as is the barbarous practice of these 
people, and destroyed the buildings, we re-embark- 
ed with our booty in our canoes, for Nootka, 
where we were received with great demonstrations 
of joy by the women and children, accompany- 
ing our war-song with a most furious drumming on 
the houses. The next day a great feast was given 
by Maquina, in celebration of his victory, which 
was terminated as usual with a dance by Sat-sat- 
sak-sis. 

Repeated applications had been made to Maqui- 
na, by a number of kings or chiefs, to purchase 



124 jewitt's narrative. 

me, especially after he had showed them the har- 
poon I had made for him, which he took much 
pride in, but he constantly refused to part with me 
on any terms. — Among these, the king of the 
Wickinninish was particularly solicitous to obtain 
me, having twice applied to Maquina for that pur- 
pose, once in a very formal manner, by sending 
his messenger with four canoes, who, as he ap- 
proached the shore, decorated in their highest style, 
with the white down on his head, &c. declared 
that he came to buy Tooteyoohannis, the name by 
which I was known to them, for his master, and 
that he had brought for that purpose four young 
male slaves, two highly ornamented canoes, such 
a number of skins of the metamelth, and of the 
quartlack, or sea-otter, and so many fathoms of 
cloth and of I-whaw, while as he mentioned the 
different articles, they were pointed out or held 
up by his attendants, but even this tempting offer had 
no influence on Maquiua; who in the latter part of 
the summer, was again very strongly urged to sell 
mo by Ulatilla, or as he is generally called, Ma- 
cl ee Ulatilla, chief of the Klaizzarts, who had 
come to Nootka on a visit. 

This chief, who could speak tolerable English, 
had much more the appearance of a civilized man, 
than any of the savages that I saw. He appeared 
to be about thirty, was rather small in his person, 
but extremely well formed, with a skin almost as 
fair as that of an European, good features, and a 
countenance expressive of candour and amiable- 
ness, and which was almost always brightened with 
a smile. He was much neater both in his dress 
and person than any of the other chiefs, seldom 
wearing paint, except upon his eye-brows, which 
after the custom of his country, were plucked out, 



jewitt's narrative. 125 

and a few strips of the pelpelth on the lower part of 
his face. He always treated me with much kind- 
ness, was fond of conversing with me in English and 
in his own language, asking me many questions rela- 
tive to my country, its manners, customs, &c. and 
appeared to take a strong interest in my fate, tell- 
ing me, that if he could persuade Maquina to part 
with me, he would put me on board the first ship 
that came to his country; a promise, which from 
his subsequent conduct, I have good reason to 
think he would have performed, as my deliver- 
ance, at length, from captivity and suffering was, 
under the favour of divine providence, wholly ow- 
ing to him, the only letter that ever reached an 
European or American vessel, out of sixteen that 
I wrote at different times, and sent to various parts 
of the coast, having been delivered by him in per- 
son. So much pleased was I with this man's be- 
haviour to me while at Nootka, that I made for 
him a Cheetoolth, which I burnished highly, and 
engraved with figures ; with this he was greatly de- 
lighted; I also should have made for him a harpoon 
would Maquina have consented. 

With hearts full of dejection and almost lost to 
hope, no ship having appeared off Nootka this sea- 
son, did my companion and myself accompany the 
tribe on their removal in September to Tashees, 
relinquishing in consequence, for six months, even 
the remotest expectation of relief. 

Soon after our establishment there, Maquina in- 
formed me, that he and his chiefs had held council 
both before and after quitting Nootka, in which 
they had determined that I must marry one of their 
women, urging as a reason to induce me to con- 
sent, that as there was now no probability of a ship 
coming to Neotka to release me, that I must eon- 
1.1* 



126 jewitt's narrative. 

sider myself as destined to pass the remainder of my 
life with them, that the sooner I conformed to 
their customs the better, and that a wife and family 
would render me more contented and satisfied with 
their mode of living. I remonstrated against this 
decision, but to no purpose, for he told me that 
should I refuse, both Thompson and myself would 
be put to death, telling me however, that if there 
were none of the women of his tribe that pleased 
me, he would go with me to some of the other 
tribes, where he would purchase for me such an 
one as I should select. Reduced to this sad ex- 
tremity, with death on the one side, and matri- 
mony on the other, I thought proper to choose 
what appeared to me the least of the two evils, 
and consent to be married, on condition, that as 
I did not fancy any of the Nootka women, I should 
be permitted to make choice of one from some 
other tribe. 

This being settled, the next morning by day -light 
Maquina with about fifty men in two canoes, set 
out with me for A-i-tiz-zart, taking with him a 
quantity of cloth, a number of muskets, sea-otter 
skins, &c. for the purchase of my bride. With 
the aid of our paddles and sails, being favoured 
with a fair breeze, we arrived some time before 
sun set at the village. Our arrival excited a gen- 
eral alarm, and the men hastened to the shore, 
armed with the weapons of their country, making 
many warlike demonstrations, and displaying much 
zeal and activity. We in the mean time remained 
quietly seated in our canoes, where we remained 
for about half an hour, when the messenger of the 
chief, dressed in their best manner, came to wel- 
come us, and invite us on shore to eat. We fol- 
lowed him in procession to the chief's house, Ma- 



jewitt's narrative. 12? 

quina at our head, taking care to leave a sufficient 
number in the boats to protect the property. 
When we came to the house, we were ushered in 
with much ceremony, and our respective seats 
pointed out to us, mine being next to Maquina b) 
his request. 

After having been regaled with a feast of herring 
spawn and oil, Maquina asked me if I saw any 
among the women who were present that I liked. 
I immediately pointed out to him a young girl of 
about seventeen, the daughter of Upquesta, the 
chief, who was sitting near him by her mother. 
On this Maquina making a sign to his men, arose 
and taking me by the hand, walked into the mid- 
dle of the room, and sent off two of his men to 
bring the boxes containing the presents from the 
canoes. In the mean time Kinneclimmets, the 
master of ceremonies, whom I have already spo- 
ken of, made himself ready for the part he was to 
act, by powdering his hair with the white down. — 
When the chests were brought in, specimens of 
the several articles were taken out, and showed by 
our men, one of whom held up a musket, another 
a skin, a third a piece of cloth, &c. On this 
Kinneclimmets stepped forward, and addressing 
the chief, informed him that all these belonged to 
me, mentioning the number of each kind, and that 
they were offered him for the purchase of his 
daughter Eu-stoch-ee-exqua, as a wife for me. 
As he said this, the men who held up the various 
articles, walked up to the chief, and with a very 
stern and morose look, the complimentary one on 
these occasions, threw them at his feet. Imme- 
diately on which, all the tribe, both men and wo- 
men, who were assembled on this occasion, set 
up a cry of Klack-ko-Tyee, that is, Thank ye 



128 jewitt's narrative. 

chief. His men, after this ceremony, having re- 
turned to their places, Maqnina rose, and in a 
speech of mere than half an hour, said much in my 
praise to the A-i-tiz-zart chief, telling him that I 
was as good a man as themselves, differing from 
them only in being white, that I was besides ac- 
quainted with many things of which they were ig- 
norant; that I knew how to make daggers, ehee- 
toolths, and harpoons, and was a very valuable 
person, whom he was determined to keep always 
with him; praising me at the same time for the 
goodness of my temper, and the manner in which 
I had conducted since I had been with them, ob- 
serving that all the people of Nootka, and even 
the children loved me. 

While Maquina was speaking, his master of cer- 
emonies was continually skipping about, making 
the most extravagant gestures and exclaiming Wo- 
cash. When he had ceased, the A-i-tiz-zart chief 
arose amidst the acclamations of his people, and 
began with setting forth the many good qualities and 
accomplishments of his daughter; that he loved 
her greatly, and as she was his only one, he 
could not think of parting with her. He spoke 
in this manner for some time, but finally concluded 
by consenting to the proposed union, requesting 
that she might be well used and kindly treated by 
her husband. At the close of this speech, when 
the chief began to manifest a disposition to consent 
to our union, Kinneclimmets again began to call 
out as loud as he could bawl, Wocash, cutting a 
thousand capers and spinning himself around on his 
heel like a top. 

When Upquesta had finished his speech, he di- 
rected his people to carry back the presents which 
Maquina had given him, to me, together with two 



JEWITT S NARRATIVE. 129* 

young male slaves to assist me in fishing. These, 
after having been placed before me, were by 
Maquina's men taken on board the canoes. This 
ceremony being over, we were invited by one of 
the principal chiefs to a feast, at his house, of 
Klussamit, or dried herring, where after the eat- 
ing was over, Kinneclimmets amused the company 
very highly with his tricks, and the evening's en- 
tertainment was closed by a new war-song from 
our men, and one in return from the A-i-tiz-zarts, 
accompanied with expressive gestures, and wield- 
ing of their weapons. 

After this, our company returned to lodge at 
Upquesta's, except a few who were left on board 
the canoes to watch the property. In the morn- 
ing I received from the chief his daughter, with an 
earnest request that I would use her well, which I 
promised him, when taking leave of her parents, 
she accompanied me with apparent satisfaction on 
board of the canoe. 

The wind being ahead, the natives were obliged 
to have recourse to their paddles, accompanying 
them with their songs, interspersed with the witti- 
cisms and buffonry of Kinneclimmets, who, in his 
capacity of king's steersman, one of his functions 
which I forgot to enumerate, not only guided the 
course of the canoe, but regulated the singing of 
the boatmen. At about five in the morning, we 
reached Tashees, where we found all the inhabi- 
iants collected on the shore to receive us. We 
were welcomed with loud shouts of joy, and ex- 
clamations of Wocash, and the women taking my 
bride under their charge, conducted her to Ma- 
quina's house, to be kept with them for ten days; 
it being an universal custom as Maquina informed 
me, that no intercourse should take place between 



130 

the new married pair during that period. At 
night Maquina gave a great feast, which was suc- 
ceeded by a dance, in which all the women joined, 
and thus ended the festivities of my marriage. 

The term of my restriction over, Maquina as- 
signed me as an apartment, the space in the upper 
part of his house, between him and his elder broth- 
er, whose room was opposite. Here I established 
myself with my family, consisting of myself and 
wife, Thompson and the little Sat-sat-sak-sis, who 
had always been strongly attached to me, and now 
solicited his father to let him live with me, to 
which he consented. This boy was handsome, ex- 
tremely well formed, amiable, and of a pleasant, 
sprightly disposition. I used to take a pleasure in 
decorating him with rings, bracelets, ear jewels, 
&c. which I made for him of copper, and orna- 
mented and polished them in my best manner. I 
was also very careful to keep him free from vermin 
of every kind, washing him and combing his hair 
every day. These marks of attention were not 
only very pleasing to the child, who delighted in 
being kept neat and clean, as well as in being dress- 
ed off in his finery, but was highly gratifying both 
to Maquina and his queen, who used to express 
much satisfaction at my care of him. 

In making my domestic establishment, I deter- 
mined, as far as possible, to live in a more com- 
fortable and cleanly manner than the others. For 
this purpose, I erected with planks, a partition of 
about three feet high, between mine and the ad- 
joining rooms, and made three bedsteads of the 
same, which I covered with boards, for my family 
to sleep on, which I found much more comforta- 
ble than sleeping on the floor amidst the dirt. 

Fortunately I found my Indian princess both 



131 

amiable and intelligent, for one whose limited 
sphere of observation must necessarily give rise 
to but a few ideas. She was extremely ready to 
agree to any thing that I proposed relative to our 
mode ef living, was very attentive in keeping her 
garments and person neat and clean, and appeared 
in every respect, solicitous to please me. She 
was, as I have said, about seventeen; her person 
was small, but well formed, as were her features, 
her complexion was, without exception, fairer 
than any of the women, with considerable colour 
in her cheeks, her hair long, black, and much sof- 
ter than is usual with them, and her teeth small, 
even, and of a dazzling whiteness, while the ex- 
pression of her countenance, indicated sweetness 
of temper and modesty. She would, indeed, have 
been considered as very pretty in any country, and 
excepting Maquina's queen, was by far the hand- 
somest of any of their women. 

With a partner possessing so many attractions, 
many may be apt to conclude, that I must have 
found myself happy, at least comparatively so; but 
far otherwise was it with me, a compulsory marri- 
age with the most beautiful and accomplished per- 
son in the world, can never prove a source of real 
happiness, and in my situation, I could not but 
view this connection as a chain that was to bind me 
down to this savage land, and prevent my ever 
again seeing a civilized country; especially, when 
in a few days after, Maquina informed me that 
there had been a meeting of his chiefs in which it 
was determined, that as I had married one of their 
women, I must be considered as one of them, and 
conform to their customs, and that in future, nei- 
ther myself nor Thompson should wear our Euro- 
pean clothes, but dress in Kutsaks like themselves 



132 jewitt's narrative. 

This order was to me most painful, but 1 persuad- 
ed Maquina, at length, so far to relax in it as to 
permit me to wear those I had at present, which 
were almost worn out, and not to compel Thomp- 
son to change his dress, observing, that as he was 
an old man, such a change would cause his death. 
Their religious celebration, which the last year 
took place in December, was in this, commenced 
on the 15th of November, and continued for four- 
teen days. As I was now considered as one of 
them, instead of being ordered to the woods, Ma- 
quina directed Thompson and myself to remain, 
and pray with them to Quahootze to be good to 
them, and thank him for what he had done. It 
was opened in much the same manner as the for- 
mer. After which, all the men and women in the 
village assembled at Maquina's house, in their 
plainest dresses, and without any kind of ornaments 
about them, having their heads bound around with 
the red fillet, a token of dejection and humiliation, 
and their countenances expressive of seriousness 
and melancholy. The performances during the 
continuance of this celebration, consisted almost 
wholly in singing a number of songs to mournful 
airs, the king regulating the time by beating on his 
hollow plank or drum, accompanied by one of his 
chiefs, seated near him with the great rattle. In 
the mean time, they eat but seldom, and then very 
little, retiring to sleep late, and rising at the first 
appearance of dawn, and even interrupting this 
short period of repose, by getting up at midnight 
and singing. It was terminated by an exhibition 
of a similar character to the one of the last year, 
but still more cruel. A boy of twelve years old, 
with six bayonets run into his flesh, one through 
each arm and thigh, and through each side close to 



133 

the ribs, was carried around the room, suspended 
upon them, without manifesting any symptoms of 
pain. Maquina, on my enquiring the reason of 
this display, informed me that it was an ancient 
custom of his nation, to sacrifice a man at the close 
of this solemnity in honour of their God, but that 
his father had abolished it, and substituted this in 
its place. The whole closed on the evening of 
the 29th, with a great feast of salmon spawn and 
oil, at which the natives as usual, made up for 
their late abstinence. 

A few days after a circumstance occurred, 
which, from its singularity, I cannot forbear men- 
tioning. I was sent for by my neighbour Yealth- 
lowcr, the king's elder brother, to file his teeth, 
which operation having performed, he informed 
me that a new wife, whom he had a little time be- 
fore purchased, having refused to sleep with him, 
it was his intention, provided she persisted in her 
refusal, to bite off her nose. I endeavoured to 
dissuade him from it, but he was determined, and 
in fact, performed his savage threat that very 
night, saying that since she would not be his wife, 
she should not be that of any other, and in the 
morning sent her back to her father. 

This inhuman act did not, however, proceed 
from any innate cruelty of disposition, or malice, 
as he was far from being of a barbarous temper; 
but such is the despotism exercised by these sa- 
vages over their women, that he no doubt consid- 
ered it as a just punishment for her offence, in be- 
ing so obstinate and perverse; as he afterwards told 
me, that in similar cases, the husband had a right, 
with them, to disfigure his wife in this way, or 
some other, to prevent her ever marrying again. 

Abs::t the middle of December, we left Tash- 
12 



134 jewitt's narrative. 

ees for Cooptee. As usual at- this season, we 
found the herring in great plenty, and here the 
same scene of riotous feasting as I witnessed the 
last year, was renewed by our improvident natives, 
who, in addition to their usual fare, had a plenti- 
ful supply of wild geese, which were brought us in 
great quantities by the Esquates. These, as Ma- 
quina informed me, were caught with nets made 
from bark, in the fresh waters of that country. 
Those who take them, make choice for that pur- 
pose, of a dark and rainy night, and with their ca- 
noes stuck with lighted torches, proceed with as 
little noise as possible, to the place where the 
geese are collected, who, dazzled by the light, 
suffer themselves to be approached very near, 
when the net is thrown over them, and in this 
manner, from fifty to sixty, or even more, will 
sometimes be taken at one cast. 

On the 15th of January, 1805, about midnight, 
1 was thrown into considerable alarm, in conse- 
quence of an eclipse of the moon, being awakened 
from my sleep by a great outcry of the inhabitants. 
On going to discover the cause of this tumult, I 
found them all out of their houses, bearing lighted 
torches, singing and beating upon pieces of plank; 
and when I asked them the reason of this proceed- 
ing, they pointed to the moon, and said that a 
great cod-fish was endeavouring to swallow her, 
and that they were driving him away. The ori- 
gin of this superstition I could not discover. 

Though in some respects, my situation was ren- 
dered more comfortable since my marriage, as I 
lived in a more cleanly manner, and had my food 
better and more neatly cooked, of which, besides, 
I had always a plenty, my slaves generally furnish- 
ing me, and Upquesta never failing to send me an 



135 

ample supply by the canoes that came from A-i-tiz- 
zart; still, from my being obliged at this season 
of the year, to change my accustomed clothing, and 
to dress like the natives, with only a piece of cloth 
of about two yards long, thrown loose!}* around me, 
my European clothes having been for some time 
entirely worn out, I suffered more than I can ex- 
press from the cold, especially as I was compelled 
to perform the laborious task of cutting and bring- 
ing the fire wood, which was rendered still more 
oppressive to me, from my comrade for a consi- 
derable part of the winter, not having it in his 
power to lend me his aid, in consequence of an 
attack of the rheumatism in one of his knees, with 
which he suffered for more than four months, two 
or three weeks of which he was so ill as to be un- 
able to leave the house. This state of suffering, 
with the little hope I now had of ever escaping 
from the savages, began to render my life irksome 
to me, still, however, I lost not my confidence in 
the aid of the Supreme Being, to whom, whenever 
the weather and a suspension from the tasks im- 
posed on me, would permit, I never failed regu- 
larly, on Sundays, to retire to the woods to wor- 
ship, taking Thompson with me when he was able 
to go. 

On the 20th of February, we returned to our 
summer quarters at Nootka, but on my part, with 
far different sensations than the last spring, being 
now almost in despair of any vessel arriving to re- 
lease us, or our being permitted to depart if there 
should. — Soon after our return, as preparatory to 
the whaling season, Maquina ordered me to make 
a good number of harpoons for himself and his 
chiefs, several of which I had completed with 
some lances, when on the 16th of March, I was 



136 

taken very ill with a violent cholic, caused, I pre- 
sume, from my having suffered so much from the 
cold in going without proper clothing. For a 
number of hours I was in great pain, and expected 
to die, and on its leaving me, I was so weak as 
scarcely to be able to stand, while I had nothing 
comforting to take, nor any thing to drink but cold 
water. On the day following, a slave belonging to 
Maquina died, and was immediately, as is their 
custom in such cases, tossed unceremoniously out 
of doors, from whence he was taken by some others, 
and thrown into the water. The treatment of this 
poor creature made a melancholy impression upon 
my mind, as I could not but think, that such pro- 
bably, would be my fate should I die among these 
heathen, and so far from receiving a decent burial, 
that I should not even be allowed the common privi- 
lege of having a little earth thrown over my remains. 
The feebleness in which the violent attack of 
my disorder had left me, the dejection I felt at the 
ahnost hopelessness of my situation, and the want 
of warm clothing and proper nursing, though my 
Indian wife, as far as she knew how, was always 
ready, and even solicitous, to do every thing for 
me she could, still kept me very much indisposed, 
which Maquina perceiving, he finally told me, that 
if I did not like living with my wife, and that was 
the cause of my being so sad, I might part with 
her. This proposal I readily accepted, and the 
next day Maquina sent her back to her father. 
On parting with me, she discovered much emotion, 
begging me that I would suffer her to remain till I 
had recovered, as there was no one who would 
take so good care of me as herself. But when I 
told her she must go, for that I did not think I 
should ever recover, which in truth I but little 



jewitt's narrative. 137 

expected, and that her father would take good 
-care of her, and treat her much more kindly than 
Maquina, she took an affectionate leave, telling me 
that she hoped I should soon get better, and left 
her two slaves to take care of me. 

Though I rejoiced at her departure, I was 
greatly affected with the simple expressions of her 
regard for me, and could not but feel strongly in- 
terested for this poor girl, who in all her conduct 
towards me, had discovered so much mildness and 
attention to my wishes; and had it not been that I 
considered her as an almost insuperable obstacle 
to my being permitted to leave the country, I 
should no doubt have felt the deprivation of her 
society a real loss. After her departure, I request- 
ed Maquina, that, as I had parted with my wife, 
he would permit me to resume my European dress, 
for, otherwise, from not having been accustomed 
to dress like them, I should certainly die. To 
this he consented, and I once more became com- 
fortably clad. 

Change of clothing, but more than all, the hopes 
which I now began to indulge, that in the course 
of the summer I should be able to escape, in a 
short time restored me to health, so far, that I 
could again go to work in making harpoons for 
Maquina, who, probably, fearing that he should 
have to part with me, determined to provide him- 
self with a good stock. 

I shall not however, longer detain the reader 
with a detail of occurrences that intervened between 
this period, and that of my escape, which, from 
that dull uniformity that marks the savage life, 
would be in a measure, but repetitions, nor dwell 
upon that mental torture I endured, from a con- 
stant conflict of hope and fear, when the former, 
12 * 



138 jewitt's narrative. 

almost weaned out with repeated disappointment, 
offered to our sinking hearts no prospect of release, 
but death, to which we were constantly exposed 
from the brutal ignorance and savage disposition 
of the common people, who in the various coun- 
cils that were held this season to determine what 
to do with us, in case of the arrival of a ship, were 
almost always for putting us to death, expecting 
by that means to conceal the murder of our crew, 
and to throw the blame of it on some other tribe. 
These barbarous sentiments, were, however, uni- 
formly opposed by Maquina and his chiefs, who 
would not consent to our being injured. But as 
some of their customs and traits of national char- 
acter, which I think deserving of notice, have not 
been mentioned, I shall proceed to give a brief 
account of them. 

The office of king or chief, is, with those peo- 
ple, hereditary, and descends to the eldest son, or 
in failure of male issue, to the elder brother, who 
in the regular line, is considered as the second 
person in the kingdom. At feasts, as I have ob- 
served, the king is always placed in the highest, 
or seat of honour, and the chiefs according to their 
respective ranks, which appear, in general, to be 
determined by their affinity to the royal family; 
they are also designated by the embellishments of 
their mantles, or Kutsaks. The king or head Tyee, 
is their leader in war, in the management of which 
he is perfectly absolute. He is also president of 
their councils, which are almost always regulated 
by his opinion. But he has no kind of power 
over the property of his subjects, nor can he re- 
quire them to contribute to his wants, being in 
this respect, no more privileged than any other 
person. He has in common with his chiefs, the 



jewitt's narrative, 139 

right of holding slaves, which is not enjoyed by 
private individuals, a regulation probably arising 
from their having been originally captives taken in 
battle, die spoils of war being understood as ap- 
pertaining to the king, who receives and apportions 
them among his several chiefs and warriors, ac- 
cording to their rank and deserts. In conformity 
with tliis idea, the plunder of the Boston, was all 
deposited in Maquina's house, who distributed part 
of it among his chiefs, according to their respec- 
tive ranks or degree of favour with him, giving to 
one, three hundred muskets, to another, one hundred 
and fifty, with other things in like proportion. 
The king is, however, obliged to support his dig- 
city by making frequent entertainments; and when- 
ever he receives a large supply of provisions, he 
must invite all the men of his tribe to his house, to 
eat it up, otherwise, as Maquina told me, he would 
not be considered as conducting like a Tyee, 
and would be no more thought of than a com- 
mon man. 

With regard to their religion — They believe in 
the existence of a Supreme Being, whom they call 
Quahootze, and who, to use Maquina's expression, 
was one great Tyee in the sky, who gave them their 
fish, and could take them from them, and was the 
greatest of all kings. Their usual place of wor- 
ship, appeared to be the water, for whenever they 
bathed, they addressed some words in form of 
prayer to God above, intr eating that he would 
preserve them in health, give them good success 
in fishing, &c. These prayers were repeated with 
much more energy, on preparing for whaling or for 
war, as I have already mentioned. Some of them 
would sometimes go several miles to bathe, in order 
to do it in secret; the reason for this I could never 



140 

learn, though I am induced to think it was m conse- 
quence of some family or private quarrel, and that 
they did not wish what they said to be heard; 
while at other times, they would repair in the same- 
secret manner to the woods, to pray. This was 
more particularly the case with the women, who 
might also have been prompted by a sentiment of 
decency, to retire for the purpose of bathing, as 
they are remarkably modest. I once found one 
of our women more than two miles from the vil- 
lage, on her knees in the woods, with her eyes 
shut, and her face turned towards heaven, utter- 
ing words in a lamentable tone, among which I 
distinctly heard, JVocash Ah-welth, meaning good 
Lord, and which has nearly the same signification 
with Quahootze. Though I came very near her, she 
appeared not to notice me, but continued her de- 
votions; and I have frequently seen the women go 
alone into the woods, evidently for the purpose of 
addressing themselves to a superior being, and it 
was always very perceptible on their return, when 
they had thus been employed, from their silence 
and melancholy looks. 

They have no belief however, in a state of fu- 
ture existence, as I discovered in conversation with 
Maquina, at Tootoosch's death, on my attempting 
to convince him, that he still existed, and that he 
would again see him after his death: but he could 
comprehend nothing of it, and pointing to the 
ground, said that there w T as the end of him, and 
that he was like that. Nor do they believe in 
ghosts, notwithstanding the case of Tootoosch 
would appear to contradict this assertion, but that 
was a remarkable instance, and such a one as had 
never been known to occur before; yet from the 
mummeries performed over the sick, it is very ap- 



jewitVs narrative. 141 

parent that they believe in the agency of spirits, as 
they attribute disease to some evil one that has en- 
tered the body of the patient. Neither have they 
any priests, unless a kind of conjuror may be so 
considered, who sings and prays over the sick, to 
drive away the evil spirit. 

On the birth of twins, they have a most singular 
custom, which, I presume, has its origin in some 
religious opinion, but what it is, I could never sat- 
isfactorily learn. The father is prohibited for the 
space of two years from eating any kind of meat, 
or fresh fish, during which time, he does no kind 
of labour whatever, being supplied with what he 
has occasion for from the tribe. In the mean 
time he and his wife, w T ho is also obliged to con- 
form to the same abstinence, with their children, 
live entirely separate from the others, a small hut 
being built for their accommodation, and he is never 
invited to any of the feasts, except such as con- 
sist wholly of dried provision, where he is treated 
with great respect, and seated among the chiefs, 
though no more himself, than a private individual. 
Such births are very rare among them; an instance 
of the kind however occurred while I was at Tash- 
ees the last time, but it was the only one known 
since the reign of the former king. The father 
always appeared very thoughtful and gloomy, never 
associated with the other inhabitants, and w T as at 
none of the feasts but such as were entirely of 
dried provision, and of this, he eat not to excess, 
and constantly retired before the amusements com- 
menced. His dress was very plain, and he wore 
around his head the red fillet of bark, the symbol 
of mourning and devotion. It was his daily prac- 
tice to repair to the mountain, with a chief's rattle 
in hk hand, to sing and pray, as Maqaina informed 



142 jEwiTT f s narrative:. 

me, for the fish to come into their waters. When? 
not thus employed, he kept continually at home, 
except when sent for to sing and perform his cere- 
monies over the sick, being considered as a sacred 
character,, and one much in favour with their 
gods. 

These people are remarkably healthful, and five 
to a very advanced age, having quite a youthful 
appearance for their years. They have scarcely 
any disease but the cholic, their remedy for which, 
is friction, a person rubbing the bowels of the sick 
violently, until the pain has subsided, while the 
conjuror or holy man, is employed, in the mean 
time, in making his gestures, singing, and repeating 
certain words, and blowing off the evil spirit, when 
the patient is wrapped up in a bearskin in order to 
produce perspiration. . Their cure for the rheuma- 
tism, or similar pains, which I saw applied by Maqui- 
na, In the case of Thompson, to whom it gave re- 
lief, is by cutting or scarifying the part affected. 
In dressing wounds, they simply wash them with 
salt water, and bind them up with a strip of cloth, 
or the bark of a tree. They are, however, very 
expert and successful in the cure of fractured or 
dislocated limbs, reducing them very dexterously, 
and after binding them up with bark, supporting 
them with blocks of wood, so as to preserve 
their position. During the whole time I was 
among them, but five natural deaths occurred, 
Tootoosch and his two children, an infant son of 
Maquina, and the slave whom I have mentioned, a 
cirumstance not a little remarkable in a population"] s 
of about fifteen hundred; and ?s respects child- \ 
birth, so light do they make of it, that T have seen ] 
their women the day after, employed as usual v as if 
little or nothing had happened. — 



Hewitt's narrative. 143 

The Nootkians in their conduct towards each 
other, are in general pacific and inoffensive, and 
appear by no means an ill tempered race, for I do 
not recollect any instance of a violent quarrel be- 
tween any of the men,, or the men and their wives, 
while I was with them, that of Yealthlower ex- 
cepted. But when they are in the least offended, 
they appear to be in the most violent rage, acting 
like so many maniacs, foaming at the mouth, kick- 
ing and spitting most furiously; but this is rather a 
fashion with them, than a demonstration of malig- 
nity, as in their public speeches, they use the same 
violence, and he is esteemed the greatest orator, 
who bawls the loudest, stamps, tosses himself 
about, foams and spits the most. 

In speaking of their regulations, I have omitted 
mentioning, that on attaining the age of seventeen, 
the eldest son of a chief, is considered as a chief 
himself, and that whenever the father makes a pres- 
ent, it is always done in the name of his eldest son, 
or if he has none, in that of his daughter. The*** 
chiefs, frequently purchase their wives at the age 
of eight or ten, to prevent their being engaged by 
others, though they do not take them from their 
parents until they are sixteen. 

With regard to climate, the greater part of the 
spring, summer, and autumn, is very pleasant, the 
weather being at no time oppressively hot, and 
the winters uncommonly mild, for so high a lati 
tude, at least as far as my experience went. A. 
Tashees and Cooptee, where we passed the cold- 
est part of the season, the winter did not set in till 
late in December, nor have I ever known the ice, 
even on the fresh water ponds, more than^ two or 
three inches in thickness, or a snow exceeding four 
inches in depth; but what is wanting in snow, is am- 



^>ly made up in rain ; as I have frequently known it 
during the winter months, rain almost incessantly 
or five or six days in succession. 

It was now past mid-summer, and the hopes we 
had indulged of our release, became daily more 
faint, for though we had heard of no less than seven 
vessels on the coast, yet none appeared inclined to 
venture to Nootka. The destruction of the Boston, 
the largest, strongest, and best equipped ship, with 
much the most valuable cargo of any that had ever 
been fitted out for the North-West trade, had inspir- 
ed the commanders of others with a general dread 
of coming thither; lest they should share the same 
fate; and though in the letter I wrote (imploring 
those who should receive them, to come to the 
relief of two unfortunate Christians who were suf- 
fering among heathen), I stated the cause of the 
Boston's capture, and that there was not the least 
danger in coming to Nootka, provided they would 
follow the directions I laid down; still I felt very 
little encouragement, that any of these letters would 
come to hand, when on the morning of the nine- 
teenth of July, a day that will be ever held by me 
in grateful remembrance, of the mercies of God, 
while I was employed with Thompson in forging 
daggers for the king, my ears were saluted with the 
joyful sound of three cannon, and the cries of the 
inhabitants, exclaiming, Weena, weena — Mameth- 
lee — that is, strangers — white men. 

Soon after, several of our people came running 
into the house, to inform me that a vessel under 
full sail was coming into the harbour. Though 
my heart bounded with joy, I repressed my feel 
ings, and affecting to pay no attention to what wa* 
said, told Thompson to be on his guard, and no 
betray any joy, as our release, and perhaps 01 



jewitt's narrative, 



145 




Arrival of the brig Lydia, at Nootka Sound. 

lives, depended on our conducting ourselv r es so as 
to induce the natives to suppose we were not very 
anxious to leave them. We continued our works 
as if nothing had happened, when in a few minutes 
after, Maquina came in, pjid seeing us at work 
appeared much surprised, and asked me if I did 
not know that a vessel had come. I answered in 
a careless manner, that it was nothing to me. 
How, John, said he, you no glad go board. I 
replied that I cared very little about it, as I had 
become reconciled to their manner of living, and 
had no wish to go away. He then told me, that he 
had called a council of his people respecting us, 
and that we must leave off work and be present at it. 
The men having assembled at Maquina 's house, 
he asked them what was their opinion should be 
done with Thompson and myself now a vessel had 
arrived, and whether he had not better go on board 
himself, to make a trade, and procure such articles 
as were wanted. Each one of the tribe wiho 
wished, gave his opinion. Some were for putting 
us to death, and pretending to the strangers, that 
13 



146 jewitt's narrative. 

a different nation bad cut off the Boston, while 
others, less barbarous, were for sending us fifteen 
or twenty miles back into the country until the de- 
parture of the vessel. These, however, were the 
sentiments of the common people, the chiefs op- 
posing our being put to death, or injured, and 
several of them, amo^g the most forward of whom 
were Yealthlower and the young chief, Toowin- 
nakinnish, were for immediately releasing us; but 
this, if he could avoid it, by no means appeared to 
accord with Maquina's wishes. 

Having mentioned Toowinnakinnish, I shall 
briefly observe, that he was a young man of about 
twenty-three years old, the only son of Toopees- 
hottee, the oldest and most respected chief of the 
tribe. His son had always been remarkably kind 
and friendly to me, and I had in return frequently 
made for him daggers, cheetoolths, and other things, 
in my best manner. He was one of the hand- 
somest men among them, very amiable, and much 
milder in his manners than any of the others, as 
well as neater both in his person and house, at 
least his apartment, without even excepting Ma- 
quina. 

With regard, however, to Maquina's going on 
board the vessel, which he discovered a strong in- 
clination to do, there was but one opinion, all re- 
monstrating against it, telling him that the captain 
would kill him or keep him a prisoner, in conse- 
quence of his having destroyed our ship. When 
Maquina had heard their opinions, he told them 
that he was not afraid of being hurt from going on 
board the vessel, but that he would, however, in 
that respect, be giyded by John, whom he had 
always found true. He then turned to me, and 
n?fccd me if I thought there would be any danger 



jewitt's narrative. 147 

in his going on board. I answered, that I was not 
surprised at the advice his people had given him, 
unacquainted as they were with the manners of the 
white men, and judging them by their own, but if 
they had been with them as much as I had, or 
even himself, they would think very different. 
That he had almost always experienced good and 
civil treatment from them, nor had he any reason 
to fear the contrary now, as they never attempted 
to harm those who did not injure them, and if he 
wished to go on board, he might do it, in my 
opinion, with security. — After reflecting a few 
moments, he said, with much apparent satisfaction, 
that if I would write a letter to the captain, telling 
him good of him that he had treated Thompson 
and myself kindly since we had been with him, 
and to use him well,. he would go. It may readi- 
ly be supposed that I felt much joy at this deter- 
mination; but knowing that the least incaution 
might annihilate all my hopes of escape, I was 
careful not to manifest it, and to treat his going or 
staying as a matter perfectly indifferent to me. I 
told him that if he wished me to write such a letter, 
I had no objection, as it was the truth, otherwise 
I could not have done it. 

I then proceeded to write the recommendatory 
letter, which the reader will naturally imagine was 
of a somewhat different tenor from the one he had 
required; for if deception is in any case warranta- 
ble, it was certainly so in a situation like ours, 
where the only chance of regaining that freedom 
of which we had been so unjustly deprived, de- 
pended upon it; and I trust that few, even of the 
most rigid, will condemn me with severity for 
making use of it, on an occasion which afforded 
me the only hope of ever more beholding a Chris- 



113 jewitt's narrative. 

tian country, and preserving myself, if not from 
death, at least from a life of continued suffering. 

The letter which I wrote, was nearly in the fol- 
lowing terms: — 

To Captain , 



of the Brig , 

Nootka, July 19, 1805. 
Sir, 
THE bearer of this letter is the Indian king by 
the name of Maquina. He was the instigator of 
the capture the ship Boston, of Boston in North 
America, John Salter captain, and of the murder of 
twenty-five men of her crew, the two only survivors 
being now on shore — Wherefore I hope you will 
take care to confine him according to his merits, 
putting in your dead lights, and keeping so good a 
watch over him, that he cannot escape from you. 
By so doing we shall be able to obtain our reltase in 
the course of a few hours. 

JOHN R. JEWITT, Armourer 

of the Boston, for himself and 
John Thompson, Sail-maker of said ship. 

I have been asked how I dared to write in this 
manner: my answer is, that from my long resi- 
dence among these people, I knew that I had little 
to apprehend from their anger on hearing of their 
king being confined, while they knew his life de- 
pended upon my release, and that they would soon- 
er have given up five hundred white men, than 
have had him injured. This will serve to explain 



jewitt's narrative 149 

the little apprehension I felt at their menaces after- 
wards, for otherwise, sweet as liberty was to me, 
I should hardly have ventured on so hazardous an 
experiment. 

On my giving the letter to Maquina, he asked 
me to explain it to him. This I did line by line, 
as he pointed them out with his finger, but in a 
sense very different from the real, giving him to 
understand that I had written to the captain, that 
as he had been kind to me since I had been taken 
by him, that it was my wish that the captain should 
treat him accordingly, and give him what molass- 
es, biscuit, and rum he wanted. When I had 
finished, placing his finger in a significant manner 
on my name at the bottom, and eyeing me with a 
look that seemed to read my inmost thoughts, he 
said to me, cc John, you no lie?" Never did I 
undergo such a scrutiny, or ever experience great- 
er apprehensions than I felt at that moment, when 
my destiny was suspended on the slightest thread, 
and the least mark of embarrassment on mine, or 
suspicion of treachery on his part, would probably 
have rendered my life the sacrifice. Fortunately 
I was able to preserve my composure, and my be- 
ing painted in the Indian manner, which Maquina 
had since my marriage, required of me, prevented 
any change in my countenance from being noticed, 
and I replied with considerable promptitude, look- 
ing at him in my turn, with all the confidence I 
could muster, M Why do you ask me such a ques- 
tion, Tyee? have you ever known me to lie?" 
" No." " Then how can you suppose I should 
tell you a lie now, since I have never done it." 
As I was speaking, he still continued looking at 
me with the same piercing eye, but observing noth- 
ing to excite his suspicion, he told me that he be- 
- 13* 



150 jkwitt's narrative. 

lieved what I said was true, and that he would go 
on hoard, and gave orders to get ready his canoe. 
His chiefs again attempted to dissuade him, using 
every argument for that purpose, while his wives 
crowded around him, begging him on their knees, 
not to trust himself with the white men. Fortu- 
nately for my companion and myself, so strong was 
his wish of going on board the vessel, that he was 
deaf to their solicitations, and making no other re- 
ply to them, than, " John no lie," left the house, 
taking four prime skins with him as a present to the 
captain. 

Scarcely had the canoe put off, when he order- 
ed his men to stop, and calling to me, asked me 
if I did not want to go on board with him. Sus- 
pecting this as a question merely intended to en- 
snare me, I replied that f had no wish to do it, not 
having any desire to leave them. 

On going on board the brig, Maquina immedi- 
ately gave his present of skins and my letter to the 
captain, who on reading it, asked him into the 
cabin, where he gave him some biscuit and a glass 
of rum, at the same time, privately directing his 
mate to go forward, and return with five or six of 
the men armed. When they appeared, the cap- 
tain told Maquina that he was his prisoner, and 
should continue so, until me two men, whom he 
knew to be on shore, were released, at the same 
time ordering him to be put in irons, and the win- 
dows secured, which was instantly done, and a 
couple of men placed as a guard over him. Ma- 
quina was greatly surprised and terrified at this re- 
ception; he however, made no attempt to resist, 
but requested the captain to permit one of his men 
to come and see him. One of them was accord- 
ingly called, and Maquina said something to him 



151 

vh'.ch the captain did not understand, but suppos- 
ed to be an order to release us, when the man re- 
turning to the canoe, it was paddled off with the 
utmost expedition to the shore. As the canoe ap- 
proached, the inhabitants, who had all collected 
upon the beach, manifested some uneasiness at not 
seeing their king on board, but when on its arrival, 
they were told that the captain had made him a 
prisoner, and that John had spoke bad about him 
in a letter, they all both men and women, set up 
a loud howl, and ran backwards and forwards upon 
the shore like so many lunatics, scratching their 
faces, and tearing the hair in handfuls from their 
heads. 

After they had beat about in this manner for 
some time, the men ran to their huts for their 
weapons, as if preparing to attack an invading 
enemy; while Maquina's wives and the rest of the 
women, came around me, and throwing themselves 
on their knees, begged me with tears to spare his 
life, and Sat-sat-sak-sis, who kept constantly with 
me, taking me by the hand, wept bitterly, and join- 
ed his entreaties to theirs, that I would not let the 
white men kill his father. I told them not to af- 
flict themselves, that Maquina's life was in no dan- 
ger, nor would the least harm be done to him. 

The men were however, extremely exasperated 
with me, more particularly the common people, 
who came running in the most furious manner to- 
wards me, brandishing their weapons, and threat- 
ening to cut me in pieces no bigger than their 
thumb nails, while others declared they would 
burn me alive over a slow fire, suspended by my 
heels. All this fury, however, caused me but lit- 
tle alarm, as I felt convinced they would not dare 
to execute their threats while the king was on 



152 jewitt's narrative. 

board the brig. The chiefs took no part in this 
violent conduct, but came to me and enquired the 
reason why Maquina had been thus treated, and if 
the captain intended to kill him. I told them that 
if they would silence the people, so that I could 
be heard, I would explain all to them. They 
immediately put a stop to the noise, when I in- 
formed them that the captain in confining Maquina, 
had done it of his own accord, and only in order 
to make them release Thompson and myself, as 
he well knew we were with them, and if they 
would do that, their king would receive no in- 
jury, but be well treated, otherwise he would be 
kept a prisoner. As many of them did not appear 
to be satisfied with this, and began to repeat their 
murderous threats — Kill me, said I to them; if it 
is your wish, throwing open the bear skin which I 
wore, here is my breast, I am only one among so 
many, and can make no resistance, but unless you 
wish to see your king hanging by his neck to that 
pole, pointing to the yard arm of the brig, and the 
sailors firing at him with bullets, you will not do it. 
no, was the general cry, that must never be; but 
what must we do? I told them that their best 
plan would be, to send Thompson on board, to 
desire the captain to use Maquina well till I was re- 
leased, which would be soon. This they were 
perfect!} willing to do, and I directed Thompson 
to go on board. Bin he objected, saying that he 
would not leave me alone with the savages. I told 
dim not to be under any fear for me, for that if f 
could get him off, I could manage well enough for 
myself, and that I wished him immediately on get- 
ting on board the brig, to see the captain, ?.r.d re- 
quest him to keep Maquina close till I was releas- 
ed, as I was in no danger while he had h\r.\ safe. 



jewitt's narrative. 153 

When I saw Thompson off, I asked the natives 
what they intended to do with me. They said I 
must talk to the captain again, in another letter, 
and tell him to let his boat come on shore with 
Maquina, and that I should be ready to jump into 
the boat at the same time Maquina should jump on 
shore. I told them that the captain, who knew 
that they had killed my shipmates, would never 
trust his men so near the shore for fear they would 
kill them too, as they were so much more numer- 
ous; but that if they would select any three of 
their number to go with me in a canoe, when we 
came within hail, I could desire the captain to 
send his boat with Maquina, to receive me in ex- 
change for him. 

This appeared to please them, and after some 
whispering among the chiefs, who from what words 
I overheard, concluded that if the captain should 
refuse to send his boat with Maquina, the three 
men would have no difficulty in bringing me back 
with them, they agreed to my proposal, and select- 
ed three of their stoutest men to convey me. 
Fortunately having been for some time accustom- 
ed to see me armed, and suspecting no design on 
my part, they paid no attention to the pistols that I 
had about me. 

As I was going into the canoe, little Sat-sat-sak- 
sis, who could not bear to part with me, asked me, 
with an affecting simplicity, since I was going 
away to leave him, if the white men would not 
let his father come on shore, and not kill him. I 
told him not to be concerned, for that no one 
should injure his father, when taking an affection- 
ate leave of me, and again begging me not to let 
the white men hurt his father, he ran to comfort 



154 je witt's narrative. 

his mother, who was at a little distance, with the 
assurances I had given him. 

On entering the canoe, I seated myself in the 
prow facing the three men, having determined if it 
was practicable, from the moment I found Maqui- 
na was secured, to get on board the vessel before 
he was released, hoping by that means, to be ena- 
bled to obtain the restoration of what property be- 
longed to the Boston, still remaining in the pos- 
session of the savages, which J thought, if it could 
be done, a duty that I owed to the owners. 
With feelings of joy impossible to be described, 
did I quit this savage shore, confident now that 
nothing could thwart my escape, or prevent the 
execution of the plan I had formed, as the men ap- 
pointed to convey and guard me, were armed 
with nothing but their paddles. As we came 
within hail of the brig, they at once ceased pad- 
dling, when presenting my pistols at them, I or- 
dered them instantly to go on, or I would shoot 
the whole of them. A proceeding so wholly un- 
expected, threw them into great consternation, and 
resuming their paddles, in a few moments, to my 
inexpressible delight, I once more found myself 
along side of a Christian ship, a happiness which I 
had almost despaired of ever again enjoying. All 
the crew crowded to the side to see me as the ca- 
noe come up, and manifested much joy at my 
safety. I immediately leaped on board, where I 
was welcomed by the captain, Samuel Hill, of the 
brig Lydia of Boston, who congratulated me on 
my escape, informing me that he had received my 
letter off Kla-iz-zart, from the chief Mackee Ula- 
tilla, who came off himself in his canoe, to deliv- 
it to him, on which he immediately proceeded 



jewitt's narrative. 155 

hither to aid me. I returned him my thanks in 
the best manner I could for his humanity, though 
I hardly knew what I said, such was the agitated 
state of my feelings at that momeut, with joy for 
my escape, thankfulness to the Supreme Being 
who had so mercifully preserved me, and gratitude 
to those whom he Lad rendered instrumental in 
my delivery, that I have no doubt, that what with 
my strange dress, being painted with red and black 
from head to foot, having a bear skin wrapped 
around me, and my long hair, which I was not al 
lowed to cut, fastened on the top of my head in a 
large bunch, with a sprig of green spruce, I must 
have appeared more like one deranged than a ra- 
tional creature, as captain Hill afterwards told me, 
that he never saw any thing in the form of man, 
look so wild as I did when I first came on board. 
The captain then asked me into the cabin, 
where I found Maquina in irons, with a guard over 
him. He looked very melancholy, but on seeing 
me his countenance brightened up, and he express- 
ed his pleasure with the welcome of u Wocash 
John;" when taking him by the hand, I asked the 
captain's permission to take off his irons, assuring 
him, that as I was with him, there was no danger of 
his being in the least troublesome. He accordingly 
consented, and I felt a sincere pleasure in freeing 
from fetters, a man, who, though he had caused the 
death of my poor comrades, had nevertheless, al- 
ways proved my friend and protector, and whom I 
had requested to be thus treated, only with a view 
of securing my liberty. Maquina smiled and appear- 
ed much pleased at this mark of attention from me. 
When I had freed the king from his irons, cap- 
tain Hill wished to learn the particulars of our cap- 
ture, observing that an account of the destruction 



of the ship and her crew had been received at 
Boston before he sailed, but that nothing more 
was known, except that two of the men were liv- 
ing, for whose rescue the owners had offered a lib- 
eral reward, and that he had been able to get 
nothing out of the old man, whom the sailors had 
supplied so plentifully with &rog, as to bring him 
too much by the head to give any information. 

I gave him a correct statement of the whole pro- 
ceeding, together with the manner in which my life 
and that of my comrade bad been preserved. On 
hearing my story, be was greatly irritated against 
Maquina, and said he ought to be killed. I ob 
served that however ill he might have acted in 
taking our ship, yet that it would, perhaps, be wrong 
to judge an uninformed savage, with the same se- 
verity as a civilized person, who had the light of 
religion and the laws of society to guide him. 
That Maquina's conduct in taking our ship, arose 
from an insult that he thought he had received from 
captain Salter, and from the unjustifiable conduct 
of some masters of vessels, who had robbed him, 
and without provocation, killed a number of his 
people. Besides that, a regard for the safety of 
others ought to prevent his being put to death, as 1 
had lived long enough with these people to know that 
revenge of an injury, is held sacred by them, and 
that they would not fail to retaliate, should he kill 
their king, on the first vessel or boat's crew that 
should give them an opportunity; and that, though 
he might consider executing him as but an act of 
justice, it would probably cost the lives, of many 
Americans. 

The captain appeared to be convinced from 
what I said, of the impolicy of taking Maquina's 
life, and said that he would leave it wholly with 



jewitt's narrative. 157 

me whether to spare or kill him, as he was resolv- 
ed to incur no censure in either case. I replied 
that I most certainly should never take the life of 
a man who had preserved mine, had I no other 
reason, but as there was some of the Boston's 
property still remaining on shore, I considered it 
a duty that I owed to those who were interested in 
that ship, to try to save it for them, and with that 
view I thought it would be well to keep him on 
board till it was given up. He concurred in this 
proposal, saying if there was any of the property 
left, it most certainly ought to be got. 

During this conversation Maquina was in great 
anxiety, as from what English he knew he perfect- 
ly comprehended the subject of our deliberation; 
constantly interrupting me to enquire what we had 
determined to do with him, what the captain said, 
if his life would be spared, and if I did not think 
that Thompson would kill him. I pacified him as 
well as I was able, by telling him that he had noth- 
ing to fear from the captain, that he would not be 
hurt, and that if Thompson wished to kill him, 
which was very probable, he would not be allowed 
to do it. He would then remind me that I was 
indebted to him for my life, and that I ought to do 
by him as he had done by me. I assured him that 
such was my intention, and I requested him to re- 
main quiet, and not alarm himself, as no harm was 
intended him. But I found it extremity difficult 
to convince him of this, as it accorded so little 
with the ideas of revenge entertained by them. I 
told him however, that he must restore all the 
property still in his possession, belonging to the 
ship. This he was perfectly ready to do, happy 
to escape on such terms. But as it was now past 
five, and too late for the articles to be collected, 
14 



158 jewitt's narrative. 

and brought off, I lold him that he must content 
himself to remain on board with me that night, 
and in the morning he should be set on shore as 
soon as the things were delivered. To this he 
agreed, on condition that I would remain with him 
in the cabin.' I then went upon deck, and the ca- 
noe that brought me having been sent back, I 
hailed the inhabitants, and told them that their 
king had agreed to stay on board till the next day, 
when he would return, but that no canoes must at- 
tempt to come near the vessel during the night, as 
they would be fired upon. They answered, Wo- 
ho, woho — very well, very well. I then returned 
to Maquina, but so great were his terrors, that he 
would not allow me to sleep, constantly disturbing 
me with his questions, and repeating, ■" John, you 
know when you was alone, and more than five 
hundred men were your enemies, I was your friend 
and prevented them from putting you and Thomp- 
son to death, and now I am in the power of your 
friends, you ought to do the same by me." I as- 
sured him that he would be detained on board no 
longer than the property was released, and that as 
soon as it was done, he would be set at liberty. 

At day break I hailed the natives, and told them 
that it was Maquina's order that they should bring 
off the cannon, and anchors, and whatever remain- 
ed with them of the cargo of the ship. This 
they set about doing with the utmost expedition, 
transporting the cannon and anchors by lashing to- 
gether two of their largest canoes, and covering 
them with planks, and in the course of two hours, 
they delivered every thing on board that I could 
recollect, with Thompson's and my chest, con- 
taining the papers of the ship, &c. 

When every thing belonging to the ship had 



jewitt's narrative. 159 

been restored, Maquina was permitted to return in 
his canoe, which had been sent for him, with a 
present of what skins he had collected, which 
were about sixty, for the captain in acknowledg- 
ment of his having spared his life and allowed him 
to depart unhurt; such was also, the transport he 
felt when captain Hill came into the cabin, and 
told him that he was at liberty to go, that he threw 
off his mantle, which consisted of four of the very 
best skins, and gave it to him, as a mark of his 
gratitude; in return for which, the captain presented 
him with a new great coat and hat, with which he 
appeared much delighted. The captain then de- 
sired me to inform him that he should return to 
that part of the coast in November, and that he 
wished him to keep what skins he should get, 
which he would buy of him. This Maquina prom- 
ised, saying to me at the same time, " John, you 
know I shall be then at Tashees, but when you 
come make pow, which means, fire a gun to let 
me know, and I will come down." When he 
came to the side of the brig, he shook me cordi- 
ally by the hand, and told me that he hoped I 
would come to see him again in a big ship, and 
bring much plenty of blankets, biscuit, molasses 
and rum, for him and his son who loved me a 
great deal, and that he would keep all the furs he 
got for me, observing at the same time, that he 
should never more take a letter of recommenda- 
tion from any one, or ever trust himself on board a 
vessel unless I was there. Then grasping both 
my hands, with much emotion, while the tears 
trickled down his cheeks, he bade me farewell, 
and stept into the canoe, which immediately pad- 
dled him on shore. 

Notwithstanding my joy at my deliverance, and 



It)0 JEWITT S NARRATIVE. 

the pleasing anticipation I felt of once more be- 
holding a civilized country, and again being per- 
mitted to offer up my devotions in a Christian 
church, I could not avoid experiencing a painful 
sensation on parting with this savage chief, who 
had preserved my life, and in general treated me 
with kindness, and considering their ideas and 
manners, much better than could have been ex- 
pected. . 

My pleasure was also greatly damped by an un- 
fortunate accident that occurred to Toowinnakinn- 
ish. That interesting young chief had come on 
board in the first canoe in the morning, anxious to 
see and comfort his king. He was received with 
much kindness by captain Hill, from the favorable 
account I gave of him, and invited to remain on 
board. As the muskets were delivered, he was in 
the cabin with Maquina, where was also the cap- 
tain, who on receiving them, snapped a number in 
order to try the locks ; unluckily one of them hap- 
pened to be loaded with swan shot, and going off, 
discharged its contents into the body of poor 
Toowinnakinnish, who was sitting opposite. On 
hearing the report, I instantly ran into the cabin, 
where I found him weltering in his blood, with 
the captain who was greatly shocked at the acci- 
dent, endeavouring to assist him. We raised him 
up, and did every thing in our power to aid and 
comfort him, telling him that we felt much grieved 
at his misfortune, and that it was wholly uninten- 
tional; this he told me he was perfectly satisfied of, 
and while we dressed and bound up his wounds in 
the best manner we could, he bore the pain with 
great calmness, and bidding me farewell, was put 
on board one of the canoes, and taken on shore, 
where after languishing a few days, he expired, 



jewitt's narrative. 161 

To me, his misfortune was a source of much 
affliction, as he had no share in the massacre of 
our crew, was of a most amiable character, and had 
always treated me with the greatest kindness and 
hospitality. 

The Brig being under weigh, immediately on 
Maquina's quitting us, we proceeded to the north- 
ward, constantly keeping the shore in sight, and 
touching at various places for the purpose of trad- 
ing. 

Having already exceeded the bounds I had pre- 
scribed myself, I shall not attempt any account of 
our voyage upon the coast, or a description of the 
various nations we met with in the course of it, 
among whom were a people of a very singular ap- 
pearance, called by the sailors the Wooden-lips, 
They have many skins, and the trade is principal- 
ly managed by their women, who are not only ex- 
pert in making a bargain, but are as dexterous in 
the management of their canoes, as the men are 
elsewhere. 

After a period of nearly four months from our 
leaving Nootka, we returned from the northward 
to Columbia river, for the purpose of procuring 
masts, &c. for our brig, which had suffered con- 
siderably in her spars during a gale of wind. We 
proceeded about ten miles up the river, to a small 
Indian village, where we heard from the inhabi- 
tants, that Captains Clark and Lewis, from the 
United States of America, had been there about a 
fortnight before, on their journey over-land, and 
had left several medals with them, which they 
showed us. The river at this place, is of con- 
siderable breadth, and both sides of it from its en- 
trance, covered with forests of the very finest pine 
timber, fir and spruce, interspersed with Indian 



162 jewitt's narrative. 

settlements. Here, after providing ourselves with 
spars, we sailed for Nootka, where we arrived in 
the latter part of November. The tribe being ab- 
sent, the agreed signal was given, by firing a can- 
non, and in a few hours after a canoe appeared, 
which landed at the village, and putting the king 
on shore, came off to the brig. — Enquiry was im- 
mediately made by Kinneclimmets, who was one 
of the three men in the canoe, if John was there, 
as the king had some skins to sell them if he was. 
I then went forward and invited them on board, 
with which they readily complied, telling me that 
Maquina had a number of skins with him, but that 
he would not come on board unless I would go on 
shore for him. This I agreed to, provided they 
would remain in the brig in the mean time. To 
this they consented, and the captain taking them 
into the cabin, treated them with bread and molasses. 
I then went on shore in the canoe, notwithstanding 
the remonstrances of Thompson and the captain, 
who, though he wanted the skins, advised me by. 
no means to put myself in Maquina's power; but I 
assured him that I had no fear as long as those men 
were on board. As I landed Maquina came up 
and welcomed me with much joy: on enquiring 
for the men, I told him that they were to remain 
till my return. 6£ Ah John," said he, I see u you 
are afraid to trust me, but if they had come with 
you, I should not have hurt you, though I should 
have taken good care not to let you go on board 
of another vessel." He then took his chest of 
skins, and stepping into the canoe, I paddled him 
along-side the brig, where he was received and 
treated by Capt. Hill with the greatest cordiality, 
who bought of him his skins. He left us much 
pleased with his reception, enquiring of me how 



jewitt's narrative. 163 

many moons it would be before I should come 
back again to see him and his son, who had beg- 
ged him hard to let him come with him to see me: 
saying, that he would keep all his furs for me, and 
that as soon as my son, who was then about five 
months old, was of a suitable age to take from his 
mother, he would send for him, and take care of 
dim as his own. 

As soon as Maquina had quitted us, we got un- 
der weigh, and stood again to the northward. 
We continued on the coast until the eleventh of 
August, 1806, when having completed our trade, 
we sailed for China, to the great joy of all our 
crew, and particularly so to me. With a degree 
of satisfaction that I can ill express, did I quit a 
coast to which I was resolved nothing should again 
tempt me to return, and as the tops of the moun- 
tains sunk in the blue waves of ocean, I seemed to 
feel my heart lightened of an oppressive load. 

We had a prosperous passage to China, arriving 
at Macao in December, from whence the brig pro- 
ceeded to Canton. There I had the good fortune 
to meet a townsman and an old acquaintance, in 
the mate of an English East-Indiaman, named John 
Hill, whose father, a wealthy merchant in Hull, in 
the Baltic trade, was a next door neighbour to mine. 
Shortly after our arrival, the captain being on 
board the English ship, and mentioning his having 
had the good fortune to liberate two men of the 
Boston's crew from the savages, and that one of 
them was named Jewitt, my former acquaintance 
immediately came on board the brig too see me. 

Words can ill express my feelings on seeing 
him. Circumstanced as I was, among persons 
who were entire strangers to me, to meet thus in 
a foroiVn land, with one between whom and mv- 



164 



JEWITT S NARRATIVE 



self, a considerable intimacy had subsisted, was a 
pleasure that those alone who have bean in a simu- 
lar situation can properly estimate. He appeared 
on his part, no less happy to see me, whom he 
supposed to be dead, as the account of our capture 
had been received in England some time before 
his sailing, and all my friends supposed me to have 
been murdered. From this young man, I received 
every attention and aid, that a feeling heart, inter- 
ested in the fate of another, could confer. He 
supplied me with a new suit of clothes, and a hat, 
a small sum of money for my necessary expences, 
and a number of little articles for sea-stores on my 
voyage to America. I also gave him a letter for 
my father, in which I mentioned my wonderful 
preservation, and escape, through the humanity of 
captain Hill, with whom I should return to Bos- 
ton. This letter he enclosed to his father, by a 
ship that was just sailing, in consequence of which 
it was received much earlier than it otherwise 
would have been. 




Arrival of the brig Lydia at Boston. 

We left China in Februrary, 1807, and after a 
pleasant voyage of one hundred and fourteen days, 



jewitt's narrative. 165 

arrived at Boston. My feelings on once more find- 
ing myself in a Christian country, among a people 
speaking the same language with myself, may be 
more readily conceived than expressed. In the 
Post- Office in that place, I found a letter for me 
from my mother, acknowledging the receipt of 
mine from China, expressing the great joy of my 
family on hearing of my being alive and well, whom 
they had for a long time given up for dead, and 
requesting me to write to them on receiving her let- 
ter, which I accordingly did. While in Boston, 
I was treated with much kindness and hospitality 
by the owners of the ship Boston, Messrs. 
Francis and Thomas Amory of that place, to whom 
I feel myself under great obligations for their 
goodness to me, and the assistance which they so 
readily afforded a stranger in distress. 



166 jewitt's narrative- 



WAR-SONG OF THE NOOTKA TRIBE. 

Commencing with a chorus repeated at the end of 
each line. 
Rah-yee hah yar har r he yar hah. 
Ie yie ee yah har — ee yie hah. 
Ie yar-ee yar hah — ee yar hah. 
Ie yar ee I yar yar hah — Ie yar ee yee yah ? 

I-ye ma hi-chill at-sish Kla-ha — Ha-ye-hah. 
Que nok ar parts-arsh waw — Ie yie-yar. 
Waw-hoo naks sar hasch — Yar-hah. I-yar hee I-yar. 
Waw hoo naks ar hasch yak-queets sish ni-ese, 
Waw har. Hie yee ah-hah. 

Repeated over and over with gestures and brandish- 
ing of weapons. 

NOTE. 

' Ie-yee ma hi-chill, signifies. Ye do not lyiow. It ap- 
pears to be a poetical mode of expression, the common 
one for you do not know, being, Wik-kum-atush ; from 
this, it would seem that they have two languages, one 
for their songs and another for common use. The 
general meaning of this first sonjj appears to be, Ye lit- 
tle know ye men of Klahar, what valiant warriors we 
are. Poorly can our foes contend with us, when we 
come with our daggers, &c. 

The Nootkians have no songs of a historical nature, 
nor do they appear to have any tradition respecting 
their origin. 

THE END. 



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